Nearly 4,000 allegations of child neglect or abuse of a sexual, physical, or emotional nature were reported to social and child protection workers in Galway in the past four years.
The figures reveal there were half as many neglect/abuse allegations reported to the authorities last year, at 648, as were made in 2013 when the number peaked at 1,250. Some 985 allegations were made in 2012 and 1,078 were logged in 2011.
380 of the 1,250 complaints registered in Galway city and county in 2013 referred to child neglect while 179 of the 648 allegations made about children last year related to neglectlful treatment.
This is according to figures from Tusla, The Child and Family Agency. The organisation which was established last year, is now the dedicated State agency charged with supporting and promoting the development, welfare, and protection of children, and the effective functioning of families. Tusla, which has 4,000 staff and an operating budget of more than €600 million, has taken over the children and family services functions of the HSE. It claims to represent the most comprehensive reform of child protection, early intervention, and family support services ever undertaken in Ireland.
Tusla responds to every child protection or welfare allegation in accordance with Children First National Guidelines which were established in 2011. There are 82 full and part-time social workers operating in the Galway/Roscommon area.
Following a preliminary inquiry, referrals are then taken to the next stage which are known as initial assessments. In 2013 1,044 of the 1,250 allegations of sexual, physical, or emotional abuse made about Galway based children were initially assessed, while 450 of the 648 complaints made in 2014 reached this stage. This is the only stage of the investigation process for which figures are available.
Initial assesment is quite an in-depth process which involves meeting the child, the child’s parents, and contacting relevant professionals. The focus of this procedure is to make a preliminary determination of risk and unmet need. Following on from this procedure further assessment may be required if social and child protection workers are unhappy with the situation. Risk assessment may need to be carried out to develop a comprehensive overview of the child’s circumstances.
Over time, formal entry to the child protection system could be sanctioned if a child is identified as either suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm as a result of abuse or neglect.
Figures from The Child and Family Agency indicate that as of January 31, there were 354 children in care in Galway city and county.
