State must protect the vulnerable

THERE is distressing evidence that child abuse in Ireland is escalating and the number of children in care is rising according to the latest report from the Department of Health.

Behind the cold columns of statistics and multi-coloured pie charts are unimaginable tragedies of sexual and physical abuse, parental inability to cope, alcoholism and drug abuse, all culminating in the appalling neglect and abuse of thousands of children who have to be taken into care by the State.

It is a matter of considerable concern that of the 4,424 children in care at the end of 2000, almost one-quarter were aged five or under. In another disturbing statistic, almost 60% of children taken into State care are from single parent or broken homes.

Given the virtual torrent of appalling revelations of abuse, both sexual and physical, to which children continue to be subjected, it is alarming that over 8,200 cases of such abuse were reported by health boards during the year.

Of this total, over 3,000 cases were confirmed, while no evidence of abuse was found in 778 cases, with the balance either inconclusive or under ongoing assessment. For reasons that remain unclear, the highest number of abuse cases (2,028) were reported by the South Eastern Health Board.

In view of Ireland’s shocking record of sexual abuse of children, particularly in State institutions run by religious orders, it is shocking to note that 2,104 cases of this type of abuse were reported in 2000. More than one in four (517) of these cases were confirmed, in 182 there was no evidence of abuse and remaining reports were either inconclusive or still being assessed.

According to Health Statistics 2002, a report published every three years with the aim of providing an overview of health in Ireland, the vast majority of children in care are in foster homes.

The statistics make for grim reading. Among reasons given for their admission to care, there were 207 cases of sexual abuse, 290 of physical abuse, and 1,219 cases of neglect.

Overall, 1,304 parents were found to be incapable of coping or ill, while 464 parents were abusing drugs or alcohol.

In fulfilling their statutory role, health boards are empowered to provide substitute care for children who are not receiving adequate care and protection at home. Boards are also required to provide assessment and protection to children in suspected abuse cases.

In addition to ‘abuse’ and ‘neglect’ other causes listed in the report for children being put into care were emotional abuse, behavioural problems or child abandonment.

As painfully witnessed in a long litany of horrific court cases, children are extremely vulnerable to abuse by adults.

Up to now, health boards have been criticised, and rightly so, for failing to provide adequate plans and support systems for individual children in care.

It is vital for the State to ensure that victims of abuse or neglect are entrusted to residential care where they can be properly looked after or to foster parents able to establish trusting relationships and provide a home environment where they can feel safe, secure and know their potential will be nurtured.