Cari pleads to avoid further funds cuts

Children At Risk in Ireland (Cari), which treats victims of sexual abuse, has said it fears for the future of some services if it undergoes any further cuts to its funding.

Cari also expressed concern about HSE figures that show a 28% rise in child sex abuse referrals between 2008 and 2010, but a lack of clarity as to how many of those referrals were cases of confirmed abuse.

The organisation works with children aged 12 and under provides counselling and therapy to victims of sexual abuse. Its latest annual report showed it provided a 12% increase in therapy hours last year, despite cutbacks which led to the closure of its Cork office.