Sir, - The National Network of Rape Crisis Centres very much welcomes the new initiatives for Child Protection by the Minister of State, Austin Currie.
We are glad also that he has decided not to introduce mandatory reporting at this time and, rather than a disproportionate share of resources then being spent on investigation of child abuse, the additional funding allocated for the full implementation of the Child Care Act will be deployed to maximum effect.
Effective solutions to the complex problem of child abuse will require not only comprehensive child protection, treatment and preventive services but also substantive reform of the law, of court structures and of the rules of evidence before mandatory reporting can be considered an effective option.
Ireland needs to look more closely at the difficulties being experienced in the US where mandatory reporting has been in operation since the 1960s. There the rate of unsubstantiated reported child abuse cases rose from 35 per cent to 65 per cent from 1979 to 1992.
On the other hand a system off voluntary reporting operates very successfully in the Netherlands. This is called the Confidential Doctors' Bureau. Under this system 90 per cent of incest offenders confess to their crime. If the offender does not co operate with the investigation the case is then referred to the Bureau of Child Protection for compulsory intervention. Surely this system is worth researching as soon as possible. - Yours etc.
Spokesperson,
National Network of Rape Crisis Centres.
20 Mary Street,
Clonmel,
Co Tipperary.