Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

I welcome this debate which gives us an important forum with the Minister of State to discuss the issues highlighted in the "Prime Time Investigates" report. Those of us who take an interest in this area are all too familiar with the waiting lists and the difficulties families have in accessing services, even where serious problems exist. What "Prime Time Investigates" told us was not new. However, it illustrated in a dramatic way some of the problems in the area.

I welcome the Minister of State to the House and I congratulate him on his new appointment, which is an important role. No one has the high moral ground on this. Everybody wants to see the best services in place for those who need them. A number of issues concern me about the "Prime Time Investigates" programme and the responses given by the Minister of State today which I will highlight. I do not want this discussion to be seen as rhetoric or posturing. I hope it will have a real impact on the services available and on the Minister of State's interest and action.

The "Prime Time Investigates" investigation showed the shocking situation of many children and the failure to respond with the services they need. The issue predates the programme. A commission of inquiry is examining inadequacies in child care services during the latter half of the 20th century. A redress board is paying compensation to victims who experienced sexual abuse in residential care in this country. Have we learned from the past and are we doing things differently now?

The Minister of State was clear about the resource issue. We come from a low base in this regard and we needed these resources. The resources may be enough but what is happening? Why are the front-line services not receiving them? This is a key question which is raised with regard to health all of the time but is also relevant to child care services. The best ally of abuse and neglect is denial. We have seen this in the past where people in positions of responsibility did not believe children, dismissed concerns and brushed the issue under the carpet.

I am concerned that denial is not confined to history but is current. Take the "Prime Time Investigates" programme and the response from the HSE. I do not want to vilify the people working in this area in the HSE who are trying to do what they can. I am concerned about the reaction which showed a level of denial. I am also concerned about the Taoiseach's response in the Dáil. He stated great progress has been made and that resources are in place. This misses the point that children are at risk and the structures are failing.

I welcome the statement by the Minister of State that he was troubled by those cases. I am glad to hear this because the Minister of State should be troubled, as should the officials. These individual cases tell the story that families do not receive a service and the question must be asked as to why. In his speech, the Minister of State stated he was reassured by the HSE that, ". . . in all cases where there is a serious and immediate risk to the health or welfare of a child, it responds immediately and takes appropriate action." Is the Minister of State convinced about this? I suggest he meets the front-line staff and teams.