Without a full explanation from the HSE and gardaí about their handling of the Maurice McCabe claims, public confidence in both agencies will drain away, says Michael Clifford.

The Ombudsman for Children says early intervention would prevent the ‘torrent’ of child abuse complaints that can overwhelm child and family services, writes Claire O’Sullivan

Sexual abuse in childhood was reported by more than half of callers to a telephone counselling service for the first six months of 2015.

One of the country’s main groups for helping victims of sexual abuse has called the lack of services available “a national scandal” as it faces the prospect of not being able to accept new clients for up to four months amid mounting waiting lists for services.

AGAINST a backdrop of continuing recession, the mental health of the population of Ireland is under severe strain. (Audio at end of this story)

Eight Catholic priests were convicted of child sexual abuse in six dioceses over a 35-year period, it emerged today.

COUNSELLING services throughout the country have reported a significant increase in calls from people seeking help following the publication of the Cloyne report.

NEARLY 18 months after being promised €2 million to provide survivor therapy following the publication of the Ryan Report, counselling services still haven’t received a penny of the ring-fenced funding.

SURVIVORS of institutional abuse have told the Government they will not support a national monument dedicated to their childhood suffering — as the Government is refusing to listen to them.

FUNDING which was to be made available to counselling services for victims of sexual abuse in the aftermath of the Ryan Report has still not been allocated to support groups one year on from the damning report, it has emerged.

MORE than 800 victims of abuse are on a waiting list for the National Counselling Service (NCS), with a further 208 returning clients also waiting for vital support services.

The Catholic Church’s ’don’t ask, don’t tell’ cover-up culture exposed in a damning clerical abuse report is dead and gone, a senior cleric said today.

ABUSE victim support services will join forces this week to respond to the massive outpouring expected from the publication of the Dublin Archdiocese report.

UP to 80% of child abuse survivors availing of the state’s National Counselling Service (NCS) say their lives were transformed by the service.

THE Government yesterday unveiled its long-awaited response to the recommendations of the Ryan report, with the roll-out of the plan likely to cost €25 million.

Children's Minister Barry Andrews has published a 99-point plan for implementing the recommendations of the Ryan Report into institutional child abuse.

The HSE says its National Counselling Service has been contacted by more than 17,000 people since the Child Abuse Commission was established 10 years ago.

IT is appalling that victims of sexual abuse are waiting up to two years before receiving full-time counselling support from a State scheme set up to help people recover after their traumatic experience.

The "One in Four" support group for victims of sexual abuse has complained about the State’s ongoing refusal to fund its counselling services.

THE support group One in Four has vowed to continue assisting victims of sexual abuse despite a 24% cut in funding.

OVER €20 million of taxpayers’ money has been spent funding organisations set up to help those who suffered abuse in residential institutions.

THE Government last night described as outrageous the allegations it had cut funding to abuse survivors’ group One in Four because of its director’s criticism of the Department of Health.

The Government came under fire tonight over an “eleventh hour” decision not to continue funding one of the country’s key support groups for abuse victims.

CHILD abuse survivors have complained of delays in accessing State-run counselling services because of waiting lists for appointments.

A new study shows that people are satisfied with the National Counselling Service.

ALMOST 2,000 adults sought help from the first national counselling service for victims of child abuse.