CASES of confirmed child abuse almost trebled in eight years, according to figures just issued by the child care agency Barnardos, while cases of confirmed child sexual abuse more than trebled between 1985 and 1995.
Barnardos called on the Government to invest £35 million a year for three years to provide an "adequate response" to the most immediate needs of vulnerable children.
A briefing document, published by Barnardos yesterday, If Not Now, When?, says it is "hard to believe" that the situation of children has actually worsened over the past 20 years. The numbers of children who are homeless, living in poverty, affected by family breakdown, abused and breaking the law have all increased. One quarter of those living below the poverty line are children.
There were 765 confirmed cases of child sexual abuse in 1995, compared with 234 in 1985, according to the document, which says most sexual abuse occurs within the family. In 1994, 557 cases of child sexual abuse were confirmed. Last year 2,276 cases of child abuse were confirmed compared with 763 in 1987.
Ten per cent of the 5,000 homeless people in Ireland are children, some as young as 10. More than 400 homeless children are found on the streets of Dublin every year, and the number of referrals to the Eastern Health Board's night emergency service for homeless children and young people increased by more than 100 per cent last year. Only one in five traveller children aged between 12 and 15 attends school.
In calling for £105 million in funding, the agency says the amount is "relatively modest" in total Exchequer terms, and is equivalent to a quarter of a penny in every £1 collected in tax revenue.
Barnardos says £26 million should go to setting up treatment programmes for child abuse victims and perpetrators, resource centres for vulnerable children and families, further development of child protection services and increased provision for pre school children.
It wants a further £9 million to fund initiatives to protect street children and those who are sexually exploited, and to help implement the recently published Children Bill, which deals with juvenile justice and training and public awareness programmes.
Among its long term recommendations, Barnardos says the Government must give a commitment to eliminate child poverty within a specific time, and draw up a national objective and plan for improving the situation of children.
"This generation will stand indicted if this trend is not reversed," said Barnardos' director, Mr Owen Keenan.
Mr Keenan said Barnardos was "extremely disappointed" by the failure of the new Partnership 2000 Agreement to contain "clear commitments" to improving child care services for at risk children. This must be rectified in next week's Budget, he added.