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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 24 Feb 1998

Vol. 487 No. 6

Written Answers - Child Abuse.

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

214 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children the Government's strategy for dealing with child abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4912/98]

The Programme for Government, An Action Programme for the Millennium, identifies the following key priorities in regard to children: the enactment of comprehensive juvenile justice legislation; the full implementation of the recommendations of the Kilkenny Incest Inquiry report, Kelly Fitzgerald report and Madonna House report; the introduction of mandatory reporting of child abuse; a review of all investigative, therapeutic and prevention services to protect children including: community care child protection services; office of the DPP; courts system; services to address child begging, child homelessness and child prostitution; the referral to the All Party Committee on the Constitution of a possible Constitutional amendment to underpin the individual rights of children; the implementation of the Child Care Act in full, including those provisions relating to the regulation of child care and cre che facilities; the establishment of a voluntary contact register for adult adoptees to contact birth parents.

The implementation of many of these measures is in progress and will strengthen services designed to detect and assist victims of child abuse.

In addition, the Government is continuing to invest in the development of child care services under the Child Care Act, 1991.

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