Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers
Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): The Adoption Authority
of Ireland is an independent statutory body charged with implementing the Adoption
Act, 2010. The Authority has responsibility for the direct operational implementation of legislation
and Government policy. The AAI has advised that it is proposing to send a delegation
to India to discuss administrative matters relating to intercountry adoption between our two
countries.
Departmental Staff
611. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if any
remuneration, stipend, expense facility, financial facility or similar payment is being made from
the Exchequer to any senior public servant who has retired from her Department beyond any
accrued pension entitlements; if any such payment has been sanctioned for current senior public
servants who are about to retire from her Department; if she will list the name, positions and
details of any relevant moneys paid or scheduled to be paid of any person in receipt of or
sanctioned to receive such a payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8267/12]
Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): No payments as
described by the Deputy have been made, or are planned to be made, to any retired or retiring
official from my Department.
Child Abuse
612. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent
to which she has studied the incidents and frequency of child abuse in situations inside or
outside the home over the past number of years with particular reference to identification of
situations or circumstances which might lead to recurrences; and if she will make a statement
on the matter. [8388/12]
613. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent
to which early detection and support services are available in situations whereby children or
young adults might be vulnerable to abuse; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[8389/12]
Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): I propose to take
Questions Nos. 612 and 613 together.
When we talk about child abuse it is important to remember that in reviewing the number
of cases referred to the HSE’s Children and Family Services, child neglect has been identified
as the most common form of abuse. There are in fact more cases of neglect than sexual abuse
and maltreatment in child protection. I am aware that national and international research has
linked incidents of child abuse with domestic violence, parental mental health issues, and
alcohol and drug addiction amongst families. There are, however, other factors to be considered
including the parent’s role and the societal and environmental factors contributing to the
parent’s inability to provide for the basic needs of the child, such as social isolation, poor
housing, low levels of employment and poverty.
Family support and social work intervention are crucial to identifying, containing and alleviating
the circumstances that can lead to child abuse in all its heinous forms. The HSE’s Child
Protection and Welfare Practice Handbook, published to complement the revised Children
First Guidance which I launched last year, sets out in significant detail the indicators of abuse
and how they may be reflected in parental behaviour, in the environment in which the child is
growing, and in the behaviour of the child. These indicators allow the relevant professionals to
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