Ferns Inquiry Report
26th October
2005
The
Health Service Executive welcomes the publication of the Ferns
Inquiry Report and is committed to implementing its
recommendations. The HSE co-operated in full with the inquiry and
provided all information that was requested, made all known
files/documentation available, facilitated staff who had to attend
hearings and offered services to known victims and their families.
It
is important to recognise that victims of abuse are entitled to
closure on past events and to privacy. We acknowledge the pain that
victims are going through and regret if any former SEHB action
contributed to that.
The
main criticism of the report in relation to the former SEHB is in
relation to a lack of provision of counselling services to earlier
victims of child abuse. The HSE fully accepts this and regrets that
it was not in a position to offer such a service in the late 80s and
early 90s. Counselling services did not come into existence until
the mid 90s and it is a service that has been developed since then.
The SEHB has always acted on every child abuse case
reported to the board without exception and the HSE continues to do
so today.
Childcare has undergone enormous changes in the 90s with the
enactment of the Child Care Act 1991, which was fully implemented in
1996 and the implementation of Children First; the national
guidelines for the welfare and protection of children introduced in
1999. Since the mid 90s childcare resources have increased
dramatically, for example in the late 80s there were four social
workers in Wexford; there are now over 50 professional staff,
(social workers, psychologists, childcare workers etc) working with
children and families in the Wexford area.
The
SEHB took a very proactive approach to child protection in the 90s
and was the first health board to develop joint child abuse
notification guidelines. This led to joint training and interagency
working with the Gardai, which continues today. The SEHB took a
lead role in the implementation of Children First and we continue
developing child protection services. Starting in the 90s the SEHB
focused on interagency training on child abuse for social workers
and Gardai along with multi-disciplinary training for SEHB/HSE
staff. This training is ongoing and work is being undertaken with
community groups, voluntary groups and sporting associations to help
them develop child protection policies.. A critical development in
recent years was the establishment of a Liaison Committee for Ferns
consisting of the Bishop, Garda Superintendent and HSE Child Care
Manager. The setting up of similar committees on a national basis
is one of the key recommendations of the Ferns Inquiry.
Since the early 90s changes in legislation; knowledge of child
sexual abuse and the deviant, coercive nature of perpetrators of
abuse; Stay Safe programmes; implementation of Children First and
the Child Care Act 1991; and extensive media coverage has led to a
more knowledgeable and empowered public in the 21st
century. Any member of the public who has any concerns in relation
to the protection or welfare should contact their local health
service office where advice and information will be given.
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Comhar, the HSE adult counselling service for victims of childhood
abuse can be accessed by ringing Freephone
1800 234 118.
The
South East Rape Crisis Centre cans be contacted at:
Carlow 1800 727737
Kilkenny
1800 478478
Tipperary
1800 340340
Waterford
1800 296296
Wexford 1800 330033
Community Service department contact numbers
Wexford 053 23522
Carlow/Kilkenny
056 7784600
South Tipperary
052 77000
Waterford 051
842800
