Shatter calls for childcare to be taken from HSE

A SPECIAL school for children with behavioural problems has resorted to phoning gardaí because the HSE’s response has been “so inadequate” when repeatedly contacted about a child abused at home.

Fine Gael spokesman on children Alan Shatter told the Dáil the school dealt with children from disadvantaged backgrounds who were exposed to drugs, drink, abuse and neglect at home. He described the school’s concern “at the failure of the HSE to adequately respond to the needs of children identified as at risk”, and highlighted the case of three pupils.

“Child X” was known to the HSE for at least four years. The child “suffers from physical and emotional abuse and neglect at home”. The school made several referrals to the HSE but its response “has been so inadequate that the school has taken to telephoning the Garda every time the child presents with bruising. Recently the child presented with severe physical injuries, a broken arm, but has still not been taken into care.”

“Child Y”, aged 10, suffers serious physical and emotional neglect at home. His mother suffered with mental health problems and drug abuse while the father subjected the mother and children to domestic violence, Mr Shatter said.

“Child Y” was diagnosed with suicidal tendencies but his mother refused to engage with the school even when the child was found standing on a tiny ledge on the roof of the school, where he put himself in severe danger.

“This child is crying out for help. He is known to both the mental health and social services. He desperately needs psychological help and intervention from the social services but the HSE is not providing it.”

The third child is a 14-year-old former pupil whose parents died from drug abuse and he has been in State care since 2007, but “drifting from one care home to another” and is currently homeless.

The school had regular meetings with social workers “but no therapeutic intervention has taken place”.

Two years ago the pupil was suspended indefinitely pending such intervention being put in place by the HSE but this has not been done. He is known to have suffered medical seizures from consumption of head shop products.

Mr Shatter appealed to Minister of State for Children Barry Andrews to intervene in the cases during a debate on the implementation of the recommendations of the Ryan report into clerical child sex abuse in industrial schools and orphanages.

He said these children were being failed by the State’s “grossly dysfunctional” childcare services, which should be taken away from the HSE and given to a body with the expertise and commitment to properly exercise it.

But Mr Andrews rejected calls for childcare services to be removed from the HSE and said it would not solve the problem. “It is a quick-fix solution to a very complicated problem and, as we know, quick fixes seldom result in lasting changes. While it may appear politically appealing, a fundamental aspect of a successful child care system is the ability to access early interventions either through health professionals or public health nurses.

“In particular, there is an essential requirement to integrate our child protection services as part of the development of multidisciplinary services, both at hospital and primary care level.”

The Minister said that of the 5,700 children in the care of the State today, the vast majority of them are being extremely well looked after.