A group supporting victims of child sexual abuse has said the Health Service Executive is failing to investigate allegations of sexual abuse because social workers are overstretched.
One in Four Executive Director Maeve Lewis has said she could 'wallpaper her office' with letters from the HSE informing victims that their allegations would not be investigated because the agency did not have enough staff.
Ms Lewis said the system is in need of urgent reform if victims are not to be continually failed by the State.
She said gardaí had shown what can be done if an agency changes its approach to victims.
She said the force had done remarkable work in responding sensitively to victims.
But Ms Lewis said in many instances the HSE refuses to investigate allegations or alleged abusers if a child at risk of abuse cannot be identified.
Ms Lewis said the additional social workers promised after the publication of the Ryan Report have not yet been employed.
She said the expertise and will to tackle the issue exists in the HSE, but resources to back up the agency are not in place.
The comments come as One in Four publishes its Annual Report for 2009, which recorded an increase of 214% in demand for services from victims of abuse.
The group said it has also seen an increase in people who want to almost immediately report abuse to authorities.
