Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 18 Feb 2003

Vol. 561 No. 4

Written Answers. - Child Abuse.

Joe Costello

Ceist:

360 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans to put in place a redress board in his Department to deal with allegations of child sexual abuse against foster parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4409/03]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. B. Lenihan):

The Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002 provides for the establishment of the Residential Institutions Redress Board. This board was established in December 2002. This Act covers all people who, as children, were resident in institutions and suffered injury consistent with abuse.

There are no plans at present to bring forward legislation to provide for the establishment of a similar board in respect of those people who were placed in foster care. Obviously, this does not prevent a person from seeking redress before the courts.