AN emergency motion has been passed at the IMPACT conference expressing concern at a 66 per cent increase in reported cases of suspected child abuse within the Eastern Health Board region. Delegates were told the total number of cases rose from 1,327 in 1992 to 2,158 in 1995.
Moving the motion, Mr Gary Kiernan said members in the childcare services were working Hat out to meet children's needs.
. IMPACT representatives in new commercial semi state companies like Telecom Eireann and the Irish Aviation Authority have expressed concern at the failure of the Government to transfer their superannuation to pension funds within the companies concerned.
Mr Brendan McLoughlin said only £185,000 has been handed over to the Irish Aviation Authority by the Department of Finance, out of more than £63 million due since the authority was set up in 1994.
. Illegal chemical substances seized by the Department of Agriculture were stored for "a number of years" at Spruce House in Leeson Lane, Dublin. Delegates were told the chemicals began to "ferment" and staff from other Government Departments working in the building fell ill.
A spokesman for the Department denied allegations by IMPACT members that the substance was "angel dust" and said it was non toxic. It had now been moved to a safe location.
. Rent subsidies worth £60 million a year are being paid in rent subsidies by the taxpayer to private landlords, Mr Brendan Baker of the Eastern Health Board branch told delegates.
Many of those on supplementary welfare were not single people in bedsits but whole families. The cost of renting a three bed room semi detached house in Dublin is now £400 a month, he said, and the taxpayer was providing between £320 and £350 of this.