IRELAND
The Journal
TWO CHILDREN’S CHARITIES have spoken out about the lack of progress in addressing the need for the State to improve specialised therapy services for children who are victims of sexual abuse.
On Monday we reported that the HSE admitted that more than 50 vacancies in mental health services for children still have not been filled, despite the fact that the investment for them was allocated two years ago.
Mary Flaherty, of the CARI Foundation, which provides therapy to children who are victims of sexual abuse, pointed out that the children her organisation works with are not even covered by HSE services because they do not have the specialist personnel. This is despite the fact that there are up to 4,000 new allegations of child sex abuse each year.
“They specifically exclude child sex abuse,” said. “And for specialist services for victims of sex abuse, due to funding cuts, our own services have reduced further”.
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