An audit examining the child-protection policies and protocols in every Catholic diocese in the State will be published later today. The report, which has been compiled by the Health Service Executive (HSE) will be published by Minister for Children Barry Andrews at a press conference in Dublin this afternoon.
The Minister is also expected to outline what actions will be taken on foot of the report's findings. Mr Andrews sought approval for the measures at this morning's meeting of the Cabinet.
The audit is understood to have raised concerns about the adequacy of child-protection in a number of dioceses, but particularly in Cloyne.
The diocese, which covers most of rural Co Cork, has already been the subject of an internal report which criticised its handling of abuse allegations levelled against members of the clergy.
The report was conducted by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland (NBSC), a body set up by, but independent of the Catholic Church.
The Bishop of Cloyne John Magee recently apologised to victims of clerical sex abuse after the report found his diocese had put children at risk of harm through an "inability" to respond appropriately to abuse allegations.
The Bishop has faced a large number of calls for his resignation but has signalled his intention to remain.
It it believed that the diocese of Cloyne may be referred by Mr Andrews to the commission investigating clerical abuse in the Dublin archdiocese.
The terms of reference of that commission allow it to widen its investigations to look at other dioceses if there is evidence that they did failed to uphold guidelines and protocols that emerged in the wake of the 2005 report into clerical sexual abuse in the Ferns diocese.
The HSE audit, which is based on a questionnaire, includes detailed information on complaints and allegations of child sexual abuse against members of the clergy.
Mr Andrews received the report on December 4th and said he would publish it at the first opportunity in the new year.
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(Source: IT)