The support organisation for survivors of sexual abuse One in Four has welcomed the move by the Diocese of Ferns to put in place a code of conduct in relation to contact between priests and other church workers and children.
However, the body has reserved its judgment in a number of areas, stating that it wishes to examine the proposed policies in further detail.
In a statement this afternoon, One in Four noted that"policies, procedures and guidelines" were all important instruments in ensuring prevention of and appropriate response to child sexual abuse.
"However, the Catholic Church in Ireland and internationally have a history of introducing guidelines which promise much but deliver little as they are often disregarded by the institution itself," it added.
Following a history of sexual abuse against children by some priests in the diocese, including the late Fr Sean Fortune, the diocese has adopted a code of practice which asks priests and volunteers to avoid contact with children while not in public view.
Church volunteers and priests will also be asked to avoid being alone in a car, a building or a closed room with a young person.
One in Four, which is run by Mr Colm O'Gorman, himself a survivor of abuse by Fr Fortune, said it welcomed the "sensible and appropriate steps" taken by the diocese to ensure the safety of children.
"It is of note that these measures are similar to measures in other initiations and organisations internationally," the group said."We particularly welcome the high profile given by Bishop Eamonn Walsh to the issue and an end finally to the institutional denial of the phenomenon of child sexual abuse within the Catholic Church. A phenomenon that we assert exists across all levels of our society."
The organisation added that it looked forward to examining in detail the "proposed improved response" by the diocese to victims of abuse as well as improved liaison and reporting of allegations to State authorities.
"We would hope that any guidelines will demonstrate clearly that the Diocese of Ferns believe that all suspicions or allegation of child abuse must be reported primarily to the state authorities.
"Equally we look forward to seeing a more appropriate and fuller response, that both holds offenders responsible for their actions but that also seeks to put in place real and appropriate therapeutic responses for victim, offender and all those impacted by child sexual abuse."
Adding its note of caution on the church authorities' previous disregard for guidelines, the statement concluded: "We hope to see the vision and integrity suggested by these new guidelines demonstrated on all levels of the Diocese of Ferns response to sexual abuse."
The guidelines are published on the website www.ferns.ie and are already on display in churches in the Wexford diocese.