Grooming of young girls in state care must be thoroughly probed following the publication of a damning report, a TD has said.
Sinn Fein deputy Kathleen Funchion has called on HIQA and Tusla to launch a full investigation after the findings were made public. The TD, who is also the party’s spokesperson on Children, spoke after the Protecting Against Predators report found older men have targeted vulnerable young girls in state care homes.
She said: "Findings gathered in Protecting Against Predators, a UCD policy-commissioned report, are extremely disturbing. It is totally unacceptable that children as young as 12 are being targeted by organised criminal gangs of older men intent on causing harm and committing crimes.
"I am alarmed at serious concerns in the levels of targeting, grooming, and sexual exploitation of children. It is difficult to hear."
Read more: 'Grave concern' as children and teens in State care targeted by organised gangs
She added: "We cannot allow children to be at the mercy of these criminals to ruin their childhoods and their futures.
"They are among the most vulnerable children in our society, to learn of the potential scale of grooming and sexual exploitation by older men in care homes is outrageous and must end. I am calling on the government to immediately commission a thorough investigation into these serious allegations.
"Any investigation must include the Gardai, HIQA, and Tusla, examine the role these agencies play in supporting staff, and provide a full picture of the prevalence and extent of this criminal activity. Crucially, it must also examine the supports that staff need to stop this practice, and to ascertain whether the training they are provided with is adequate to deal with this ominous threat.
"We need to be proactive to this issue and target resources to the supports needed to ensure these young girls are not led into a life of sexual exploitation.
"I will also be writing to the Minister today, in support of calls for a national policy response from government and that the recommendations of the report are taken seriously."
Join our new WhatsApp community! Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Sign up to the Dublin Live Newsletter to get all the latest Dublin news straight to your inbox.
