A GARDA criminal investigation is proceeding into allegations against the orphanage featured in the RTE Dear Daughter programme.

The Minister for Health, Mr Noonan, said he understood that civil proceedings by former residents of Goldenbridge orphanage in Dublin were also being considered. He had no plans to initiate an inquiry into the conflicting statements concerning the experiences of former residents.

The Fianna Fail health spokeswoman, Mrs Maire Geoghegan Quinn, asked if extra resources would be made available to the Rape Crisis Centre in view of the upsurge in calls following the broadcast of the programme and the follow up Prime Time programme.

Ms Liz O'Donnell (PD, Dublin South) said the Prime Time programme had gone ahead even though a Garda investigation was in progress and its contents - an interview with the nun against whom allegations were made - constituted prejudicial pre trial publicity.

Mr Noonan said he did not believe in trial by television or by anybody other than the courts. In response to the recent concerns about Goldenbridge and St, Kyran's, Rathdrum, the Eastern Health Board established a help line.

The other health boards had also responded positively to the increase in calls from victims of past abuse by providing helplines, counselling and support services. Officials of the Department of Health and the health boards were, preparing a joint response to help victims of past abuse and details of this would be announced shortly.