Abuse statistics - We can’t ignore teen offenders

THE disturbing revelation that one in three cases of sex abuse is perpetrated by teenagers will challenge the conventional view that adults are mainly to blame for a problem increasingly prevalent in Irish society.

Notwithstanding this shock disclosure, the reality is that there are only two treatment programmes, one in Dublin and one in Kilkenny, with sufficient funding for a full-time post specifically to deal with adolescent offenders.

A parallel programme is so starved of money, it can offer less than a day’s service per week and that only happens if and when the relevant professionals are released from their normal duties.