THE HEALTH Service Executive last night acknowledged that the report had highlighted instances where health boards could have done more for the victims of abuse and it apologised to all survivors for these shortcomings.The report had found that in one case when the former Eastern Health Board was informed in March 1997 that a priest had abused students in a number of schools, it did not inform the schools. This, the report said, was “a serious lapse”.
Responding to the commission’s finding that it had been slow in providing necessary documentation to allow it conduct its investigations, the HSE said its ability to respond was hampered by data management systems in the HSE.
“Some difficulties arose due to the fact that the HSE collates child protection data per child, while the commission requested data on alleged perpetrators.
“This hindered the response process as a considerable amount of cross-referencing of files was required. The fact that there were different methods of collecting and recording data across the health system also affected the search process and subsequent responses,” it said.
“The HSE has recognised the need to strengthen its childcare data management. The process of introducing a standardised system of referral and assessment throughout the four HSE regions to streamline the process of childcare data management is well under way and will considerably improve the process of storage and retrieval of information . . . this new national system will commence in January 2010.”
The HSE said its audit of the Catholic Church’s child protection policies, in each diocese and among 140 religious orders, is nearing completion. The audit is checking to see if the HSE is aware of all cases of clerical abuse known to the church and the whereabouts of known perpetrators.
The HSE’s free national counselling service helpdesk received 50 calls yesterday in the wake of the publication of the report.
Other agencies, including the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Faoiseamh, Connect and One in Four, reported a large number of calls.
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