Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the evidence available concerning abuse inflicted on elderly people by members of their own families or other close relatives; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there is an increase in such activity in recent years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23991/09]

Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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In 2008 there were 1,840 referrals of alleged or suspected elder abuse to the HSE, an increase from 927 referrals in 2007. The HSE has developed a service to help prevent and combat elder abuse in all its forms with specialist and structures in place. The increase in referrals show that the high level of attention and the arrangements in place to address this unacceptable problem are working. An analysis of the 2008 referrals shows that most cases of reported elder abuse involve close family members. Family relatives are cited in nearly three out of every four cases. In approximately two thirds of referrals, the victim is female. The data is from the HSE Elder Abuse Service Developments 2008 report.

The basis of the current framework to address elder abuse is the 2002 report Protecting our Future...Report of the Working Group on Elder Abuse. That Report is being reviewed at the moment and the results will give critical information on how the current system works and will inform future action in this area. I expect to receive the review in the coming months.