Agency will treat child sex offenders

The first countrywide service to assist children and teens who commit sexual offences is to be rolled out next year, 11 years after it was first proposed.

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency confirmed plans to introduce the Sexually Harmful Behaviour services (SHBS). Currently, support for underage sex offenders has been fragmented with large parts of rural Ireland having no access to a public service.

A national programme for young abusers was first proposed in 2005 following the publication of the Ferns Report. Preparations were finalised by a HSE steering committee in 2013. Gardaí, the HSE, the Children’s Hospital Group, the Probation Service and CARI, a therapy service for child victims of sexual abuse, will be involved.