Child abuse cases taking up to a year to investigate

SOME reports of child abuse are taking up to a year to be investigated, social workers warned yesterday.

Statistics produced by the Central Statistics Office show an 87% increase in incidents reported last year where a child has been abandoned, neglected or cruelly treated.

There were 195 incidents of child abuse reported in 2004; 268 in 2005; 303 in 2006; and 566 in 2007.