Child poverty ‘worsened’; over past 12 months – report – RTE

Further efforts are required to reduce child homelessness, according to the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection.

In his 2022 annual report, Professor Conor O'Mahony pointed out that child poverty and child homelessness have worsened over the past 12 months.

In December 2021, 2,451 children were in emergency accommodation. By March 2022, the figure had risen to 2,811 and by May, the number had reached 3,028.

Prof O'Mahony warned that if the current rate of increase continues, a historic high of children accessing emergency accommodation in 2019 will be exceeded next year.

Backlogs in the examination of technology devices in cases concerning child sexual abuse are also increasing, according to the report and these are placing children at risk.

It notes that there were 10,583 public reports of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to Hotline.ie in 2020 and of these, one quarter represented illegal content, predominantly child abuse images.

Over 2,800 of the reports received by Hotline.ie in 2020 “were classified as CSAM leads” and a further 6,959 cases of potential CSAM were flagged to the gardaí by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC); however, it was reported in February 2022 that the gardaí only investigated 160 of these reports.

Concern around “the very small proportion” of these reports which are actually investigated by gardaí is expressed by the Special Rapporteur.

The report also reviews the Child and Adult Mental Health Service, which was the focus of public attention following a review of the operation of the service in South Kerry, known as the Maskey Report.

The Maskey Report found that 227 children and young people treated by one Non-Consultant Hospital Doctor were exposed “to the risk of significant harm” while 13 other children and young people were also found “to have been unnecessarily exposed to a risk of harm under the care of other doctors in the service”.

Further, it found “clear evidence of significant harm caused to 46 children”, including “galactorrhoea (the production of breast milk), considerable weight gain, sedation during the day, and elevated blood pressure.

Prof O'Mahony said a key issue for children in care who have complex needs appeared to be that no one agency assumed responsibility.

“Clarity around the role of CAMHS, as well as the role of other services which children may need including disability and social care must be provided”, he said.

The main issue examined by Prof O'Mahony, in his third and final annual report for Government, is an examination of Tusla's use of residential care, particularly private residential care, as a mode of alternative care.

Prof O'Mahony described the recent trend of increased reliance on private residential care as “a cause of concern”.

Figures from Tusla's Quarterly Integrated Performance and Activity Reports indicate that the number of children in residential care has begun to slowly, but steadily, increase from a low of 5% in 2016; at the end of 2021, it stood at 459 (7.8%).

While the gradual and steady increase is evident, Prof O'Mahony said it “remains very low by international standards”.

However, the report noted that residential care has become a key cost pressure for the Child and Family Agency, resulting in regular overspends and a supplementary estimate of €15m in 2019.

There are currently 177 Residential Care Centres, comprising Tusla-owned Centres, Community and Voluntary Centres, and Private Centres.

The report said international literature and Irish evidence demonstrate that it has not always delivered on claimed advantages such as reducing costs or bureaucracy.

At the same time, significant risks are created around capacity to meet the needs of children and young people; the qualifications of its staff; and the ability of State agencies to oversee service provision in private centres.

While he expresses concern, the Special Rapporteur welcomes that Tusla has drafted a “detailed Strategic Plan” to deal with the matter.

Other issues highlighted in the extensive report include multiple child protection concerns as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, including child trafficking.