Reports of child abuse increase by 25%
The Irish Times, Editorial
|
This Editorial was previously published in The Irish Times on October 21, 2000. Since it has been removed from The Irish Times' web site,
the Administration
editor has kindly consented to the reproduction and publishing of the
article on the NCHR's web site. |
Reports
alleging child abuse or neglect of children in the Mid-Western Health Board
area rose by 25 per cent in 1999, according to the board's annual review of its
childcare services.
The
reports resulted in 177 cases of abuse being confirmed, compared to 262 in
1998. During the year, 175 children were admitted to health board care. More
than 400 children were in the board's care, according to the review.
Mr
Gerald Crowley, assistant chief executive, said the increase in numbers
reflected increased challenges being faced by health board staff. "The
referrals and reports are coming from right across the spectrum. They are
coming from a variety of agencies, from gardaí, to schools, which show
heightened awareness of the issues around children's safety. What is a positive
sign is that a significant percentage is coming from families themselves,"
he said. The highest number of confirmed cases was in Co Limerick, followed by
north Tipperary and Clare. Most confirmed abuse cases relate to neglect (42 per
cent), followed by emotional abuse (24 per cent) , physical abuse (23 per cent)
and sexual abuse (11 per cent).
Asked
about the difficulties experienced by the board in finding facilities for
out-of-control children, Mr Crowley said five special care units were being
developed over the next 18 months. "There are a small number of children
exhibiting very challenging behaviour and who are both troubled and
troublesome. Caring for them is a very complex task," he said. He said
troubled cases were proportionately higher in marginalised urban areas. "In
the past year or two, there have also been very serious cases emerging in rural
areas."
But
there were "notable successes" in placing 50 children within their
extended family network such as an aunt or uncle.
"The
available research indicates that such placements are likely to be much more
stable and have better outcomes."
This
also represents a move away from the traditional model of institutional care.
"Locking up kids is not a solution. It means you feel better for a while
but it is not as simple as that. At the foundation of the State, we had 10,000
kids in institutional care and we maintained that for generations. We need to
learn that lesson," he said. Almost 30 per cent of the region's population
of 317,069 is under 18 and "current indications suggest that the numbers
of children under 14 in the immediate future is likely to rise," the
review states. Among the priorities identified is the need to help schools cope
with teenage pregnancies. Births outside marriages and to teenagers have
continued to rise.