HSE did not assess 9,000 reports of child abuse last year

THE Health Service Executive did not assess over 9,000 cases of reported cases of child abuse and neglect last year, a childcare report has revealed.

In 2008, the HSE received 24,668 reports relating to child abuse, neglect and child welfare concerns, but “initial assessments” were only undertaken in respect of 15,364 children.

The revelations, in the HSE’s own Review of Adequacy of Services for Children and Families report, reflects once again how workloads on social workers are causing cases to fall through the cracks.