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Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone, has today (11th December 2018) provided an update on the numbers of people coming forward with information about alleged abuse within scouting.

Minister Zappone says she has received a written update from Scouting Ireland which confirms that based on the continued review of historical files and 123 calls to a confidential helpline, they have now identified 317 alleged victims and 212 alleged perpetrators.

The Minister says that all alleged abuse victims who have already come forward must be properly supported and counselled and that the same level of support must be made available to any further victims that may come forward.

Minister Zappone added:

“The increase in the number of alleged victims and alleged perpetrators identified during the past two weeks are a matter of grave concern and once again underline the serious challenges facing Scouting Ireland.

As more people come forward with further information to Scouting Ireland, Tusla the child and family agency, Gardaí and other front-line support services these numbers will in all probability increase.

The public should be aware of this.

All the agencies involved continue to work on providing verified figures.

Supporting victims is my top priority. I would encourage anybody who has been abused or who wishes to name an alleged perpetrator to come forward.”

The Scouting Ireland confidential Freephone helpline is 1800 221199. The number is operational from 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 6pm Saturday and Sunday.

Tusla has also put a confidential helpline in place, 1800 805665 and this is operational from 9am to 4pm.

NOTES TO EDITORS 

The Minister met with representatives of Scouting Ireland on 28th November to discuss her concerns about the revelations of the previous week that 71 alleged abusers and 108 alleged victims had been identified by Scouting Ireland. The Minister discussed with the Scouting Ireland representatives the steps they are taking to ensure that all alleged abuse victims who have already come forward are being properly supported and counselled and that the same level of support will be made available to any further victims that may come forward.

Scouting Ireland confirmed that at that stage there had been 80 calls to the confidential helpline from people identifying as victims. They undertook to provide the Minister with updated figures within the next two weeks. On Friday 7th December Scouting Ireland informed the Minister in writing that based on the continued review of historical files and 123 calls to the confidential helpline, there are now 317 alleged victims and 212 alleged perpetrators.