'When young children have to wait for treatment this can cause serious damage'

The chief executive of Children at Risk Ireland, Emer O’Neill, said child victims of sexual abuse "may face fear, guilt, shame and anger and this can have a drastic impact on every area of their young lives". File picture

The Government has been urged to provide much-needed funding for essential therapy for child victims of sexual abuse, amid warnings they may face up to four years on waiting lists.

Children at Risk Ireland (CARI) made the call following a damning Hiqa report into Tusla’s child protection and welfare service in the Dublin south-west, west Kildare and west Wicklow area.