Tusla asked to fund clearance of child therapy backlog

The Child and Family Agency has said it is open to redirecting funding into the areas of most need but could not confirm that an organisation helping sexually abused children will get the money it says it needs to clear a therapy backlog.

Children At Risk in Ireland (Cari) yesterday launched its 2015 annual report by calling on Tusla to provide one-off funding of €200,000 to help clear a backlog which has resulted in 92 young people waiting for therapy, with waiting times between assessment and therapy now as long as 18 months for some children.

Cari said delays in providing services were particularly acute at a time when there has been a growth in referrals of younger children under 12 displaying dangerously sexualised behaviour.