Allegations of child neglect in the Midland Health Board area have dropped by 56 per cent last year. However, it has been tempered by a 29 per cent rise in the number of allegations of child sex abuse.
The figures were given at a recent meeting of the Midland Health Board by the deputy chief executive officer, Mr Derry O'Dwyer, who was quoting from the board's annual report.
He told the members that the number of allegations of neglect had fallen from 564 in 1997 to 247 last year, a reduction of 56 per cent.
However, he said there were was an increase in the number of child abuse allegations which had risen by 29 per cent to 227 reports involving 240 children.
Earlier this week, Mr O'Dwyer said the increase in the number of allegations involving sexual abuse of children may have been due to increased vigilance by board staff.
"There is a growing awareness of the problem in the community but especially in the caring sector and now child abuse is the concern of all disciplines."
He said that of the 227 allegations of sexual abuse reported to the board last year, 27 were confirmed, 26 were found to be unfounded, 105 were inconclusive and 69 were still under investigation.
Overall, he said, there were 712 allegations complaining of abuse of different kinds relating to 1,055 children; the greatest number involved alleged child abuse and neglect.
He said 25 per cent of these, 178 cases were confirmed, 83 cases or 11.5 per cent were unfounded and 40 per cent, 279 cases, were categorised as inconclusive. A further 172 cases, or 24 per cent were still under investigation at the end of the year.
"I am sorry to say that in the areas of physical abuse, 75 per cent of the proven cases involved burns being inflicted with lighted cigarettes or hot water being thrown over children," he said.
Mr O'Dwyer said that there are 65,500 children in the board's area covering Longford, Laois, Offaly and Westmeath.