Dominic Hannigan (Labour)

It is one year since the publication of the Ryan report into institutionalised child abuse. At that time, a list of 20 recommendations was published, which, if implemented, would mean such atrocious incidents could never happen again. Today, eight of our key child protection agencies are meeting in Dublin to discuss whether support services have been put in place for the victims and to discuss the implementation of the 20 recommendations. One of the 20 recommendations was that victims and their families should receive adequate counselling. I hold concerns about whether this has taken place. I am aware that one third of the victims of child abuse in Ireland live abroad in the UK. Many of these suffer higher than average levels of poor physical and mental health. The Government has provided funding for organisations to support these people but the funding is on an interim basis. There is a danger that long-term funding will not be provided. It is important to be mindful that simply because one third of the victims are out of sight, they are not forgotten and are not out of mind.