Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

I have a brief period to respond to a great number of issues, and I will try to tackle them as quickly as I can. People have been asking about waiting lists and the numbers at risk. This is partly a legacy issue that goes back to the existence of the health boards. Health boards defined assessed risk in different ways. We have instructed the HSE to develop a common language throughout the different local health offices in order that what represents risk in the north east is the same risk in the south west. We will then have an opportunity to deliver a strategic overarching plan that will tackle the same issues. Through that, we will also be able to find out where the deficits exist.

Senator Healy Eames referred to deficits in Galway. If deficits exist in Galway, there may well be surpluses in other parts of the country and we can look at the question of redeployment. This will also feed into the national child care implementation programme, which is also under the management of the HSE and which is trying to set up a proper IT system in the area. It will allow us to develop policy properly on the basis of facts.

The answer to Senator Doherty's question on the accuracy of the programme's assessment is that I do not know. This information was given anonymously and we cannot check it, other than through this particular method. The programme makers have got until the end of June to get back to me with these figures, something which they promised they will do. There are 8,972 child abuse reports to social work departments. After initial assessment, there are 3,567 child protection concerns. The number of confirmed abuse cases was 1,492, while confirmed non-abuse cases or unfounded cases came to 351. There are 958 cases with conclusive outcomes, while assessment is ongoing for 766 cases.

Senator Bacik referred to the 90% of children in State care who have a social worker and asked what is wrong with the other 10%. The reality is that people in State care can be in residential care or foster care. At the very high end of foster care, there is no social worker for people who have little or no need for social services or State intervention or supervision. However, such people have access to social services, which explains the figure. I can see why it caused people some concern.

The problem of waiting lists was an issue of concern for almost all Members in their contributions. The HSE service plan for 2008 commits the HSE to develop a mechanism for collecting information on the following for each administrative area from 1 July: the number of notifications made of child abuse or neglect; the number of assessments conducted following notifications; the number of children on waiting lists for assessments following notification of child abuse or neglect; and the average time spent on a waiting list for assessment following notification of child abuse and neglect. However, we must first make sure that everybody is counting things the same way in order that the figures are coherent and allow us to formulate policy accordingly.

Another issue raised by Members was the question of trafficking and unaccompanied minors that are going missing from the system. The figures on people going missing while under the care of the health authorities are the same in Ireland as in Europe. At the peak of this problem in 2001, a total of 81 children went missing. Last year, 32 children went missing and this year just one child has gone missing so far. Most of them are in the 16 to 17 age group. Some of them have been rescued from situations of sexual abuse or some kind of labour exploitation. There is an issue there but the majority are leaving to reunite with their families in other countries or entering labour situations. This is not acceptable. All children who come into the State must be treated equally and the HSE is developing new protocols to ensure there is equality of treatment of children in this State, whether they are non-nationals, children seeking asylum, unaccompanied minors or citizens. Three new residential centres are being developed by the HSE which will ensure a higher level of security as soon as children come into the care of the executive.

Reference was made to the "Prime Time Investigates" television programme and we can be a little but precious about whether we should pay attention to the media or be led by the media. It is a symbiotic relationship — the media, Members and members of the public are all involved in public affairs. There have been many developments prior to the "Prime Time Investigates" television programme which was the impetus for this debate. These elements are linked and give us an opportunity to ventilate these issues. I hope I have answered as many questions as possible.