State must protect the vulnerable

THERE is distressing evidence that child abuse in Ireland is escalating and the number of children in care is rising according to the latest report from the Department of Health.

Behind the cold columns of statistics and multi-coloured pie charts are unimaginable tragedies of sexual and physical abuse, parental inability to cope, alcoholism and drug abuse, all culminating in the appalling neglect and abuse of thousands of children who have to be taken into care by the State.

It is a matter of considerable concern that of the 4,424 children in care at the end of 2000, almost one-quarter were aged five or under. In another disturbing statistic, almost 60% of children taken into State care are from single parent or broken homes.