Safety of children being put in jeopardy, says Kenny

FINE GAEL leader Enda Kenny accused the Government of colluding with the HSE “in the endangerment of the children of the nation and playing games with words”. Mr Kenny said that Monday night’s RTÉ Prime Time programme had shown services for children at serious risk were hopelessly inadequate and not being delivered.

“It also showed clearly that some children will die and others will suffer long-term damage, unless decisive and effective action is taken,” he added.

Mr Kenny accused the HSE and the Department of Health of hiding behind words. The phrase “immediate and serious risk” was repeated over and over again as an incidence of competence when clearly the issue was that children at risk were not receiving any services.

“Given that 258 people are lying on trolleys around the country, 3,598 children are waiting for psychological assessments, 40,000 people are waiting for operations today, how many children at risk are on waiting lists, where no intervention has taken place and where clearly the consequences pointed out in last night’s programme beckon for their future?”

Taoiseach Brian Cowen said he did not have the opportunity to view the programme, but understood its contents. He added that Minister of State with responsibility for children and youth affairs Barry Andrew, would take the matter up with the HSE. Mr Cowen insisted that a great deal of progress had been made.

“As I understand it, where a report of a child at risk is made, it is assessed by the general pool of social workers within the health service and a person is allocated to the case if the risk is such that what is deemed to be required,” he added.

The HSE, he said, was in the process of seeking to employ a further 50 staff. There were 718 social workers dedicated to the area and 20,000 referrals a year, which amounted on average to 30 referrals to case worker.

Pressed further by Mr Kenny, the Taoiseach said 5,800 of the referrals were deemed serious and seen immediately. If anyone was in danger, their case was referred to the Garda and they were taken into care. He understood that 5,367 children were in the care of the HSE.

Fine Gael spokesman on children Alan Shatter said Mr Cowen was citing 2006 figures. Mr Cowen said he was giving the figures as an indication of the scale of the issues. He added that 4,710 children were in foster care placements.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said a review of the HSE’s child services published in the media last month had reported exactly the same thing.

There was a waiting list of 374 social work cases in the north Dublin area that had not been properly assessed, Mr Gilmore added. In central Dublin, some children were waiting up to a year to be allocated a social worker, while at-risk children were waiting for 3½ years in Kerry for services.

Mr Cowen said he agreed that the issue would have to be dealt with. One of the problems, he added, was the need to reach agreement on putting in place an out-of-hours service in place.

State’s protection service is failing children:

Opinion, page 15