Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:299 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of cases pending in respect of child sexual abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11735/99]
Written Answers. - Child Sexual Abuse.
The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available and could only be compiled by conducting a search through all the current records and would require the allocation of scarce staff resources which would not be warranted.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:300 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of persons serving prison sentences arising from child sexual abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11736/99]
There were 333 convicted sex offenders in custody in prisons and places of detention as of Friday, 30 April 1999. Records are not maintained in a fashion which would allow the precise information sought by the Deputy to be furnished. However, an examination of prison files indicates that about 50 per cent of those serving prison sentences for sex offences were convicted of child sexual offences. The prison authorities would not necessarily be aware in all cases whether the victim of a convicted sex offender was a child.