A chara, - The debate on mandatory reporting of abuse gives me a sense of deja vu. Back in the 1970s there was an intense debate on the integration of children with disabilities into the regular schools. At that point those people who had most experience in the field, namely teachers, while accepting the basic principle that all children should ideally be educated together, sought to urge caution. We tried to point out that unless and until the necessary resources were put in place, children's educational futures might become hostage to an ideological battleground. By and large that is what has happened and many children have been deprived because the integration ideologists won that political battle. The resources never materialised. The ideologists are always right, of course, but they do not have to involve themselves in a delivery of service operation, or in admitting mistakes.
I had hoped that Frank Fahey TD was going to resist the current ideologists who proclaim that mandatory reporting is now essential. But then Minister Mary Harney intervened and An Taoiseach confirmed that it was part of the Agreement for Government and would be brought in. Those who have a direct input into the work should nevertheless hold fast and seek to modify the ideological approach, which would be very damaging now for children. They must insist that the necessary resources be put in place to deal with the increased work load which would immediately follow mandatory reporting.
They should ignore the type of opinion represented by Tommy Morris (May 8th), who writes: "Social workers in the past have got a bad press and have been misunderstood. If they do not change their views on this one they will deserve it this time". Social workers and others in the field must stick to what they know is best for the children and families they serve. - Yours, etc., Tony Jordan
Gilford Road, Dublin 4.