Almost 5,500 sex abuse referrals made to children’s agency last year

There were 5,467 child sex-abuse referrals to Tusla in 2023.

This makes up 6% of the 91,924 referrals received by the child and family agency last year, the chief executive of the organisation told an Oireachtas committee on Tuesday.

Kate Duggan revealed the figures during the Children’s Committee review of the Barnahus model for child sexual abuse victims.

However, the committee heard there are challenges around full implementation of the model in Ireland, including some multi-disciplinary meetings operating virtually rather than in the same building.

Under this model, a child who has experienced or disclosed sexual abuse can go to a friendly location where gardai, social workers, doctors, psychologists and other professionals can provide the services that may be needed.

The aim is to reduce re-traumatisation by minimising the number of times a child needs to describe their experience.

It is also intended to increase prosecution rates.

The model is replicated in Finland, Norway, Slovenia and Sweden, and is in the process of being adopted in more than a dozen other European countries.

Two centres are operating in the west and south of Ireland while a third is expected to open in the east this year.

However, Barnahus South, which launched in the last few weeks, is operating as a “virtual service” until a purpose-built building is approved and completed on the St Mary’s Hospital campus in Cork.

HSE’s Barnahus lead Helen Shortt said she used the phrase “virtual” because while all the services are operating, they do not share the same premises.

The committee was told that the site selected for Barnahus East is not large enough to also accommodate a Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU) for children over 14.

Ms Shortt said the Rotunda SATU is expected to hold virtual meetings with the Barnahus East site “pending the availability of a building that can accommodate all the services”.

Ms Duggan said there are remaining challenges around operating the model, including staffing, geography and inconsistent implementation.

Green TD Patrick Costello praised the Barnahus model but raised concern about the number of centres relative to the country’s population, adding: “We’re not doing this big enough.”

Mr Delaney said a “number of factors” were taken into account behind the initial three centres, and “fully agreed” there was a more extensive network in other EU states.

He said there is an openness to further recommendations of sites but added that the current focus is on getting the three sites operational.

Mr Delaney added: “Never say never. I’m not disagreeing with you, deputy.”

A senior garda told the committee that the “best” scenario would be that all interviews of children in these circumstances would be conducted jointly with Tusla

Justin Kelly, assistant commissioner for the Organised & Serious Crime Division, said 56 interviews were carried out at Barnahus West last year.

Of these, 43 were solely garda interviews while 13 were joint interviews.

The Children’s Committee was also attended by former enterprise minister Simon Coveney after his appointment as a member.