Minister Intentionally and Recklessly Putting Children At Risk ?

In my capacity as a voluntary worker I come into contact on an almost daily basis with people who have been released from prison. My greatest concern is the failure of this Government to put in place a seamless transition from prison to community for such released prisoners and in particular those who have been convicted of sexual criminality.

My voluntary work is done purely out of charity and I have never and will never benifit from one penny from any State or non State Agency. This is perhaps why I can speak so honestly about what is going on in our country.

It is my view based on the daily evidence presented to me that the Minister for Social and Family Affairs is intentionally and recklessly putting children at risk of sexual molestation. This situation has come about by savage and reckless cuts in the supplementary rent allowance.

Since 2008 some recipients have had as much as 18% of their rent supplement cut. While people such as Mary Hanifin live in a world that is totally detached from reality, these intentional and reckless cuts are putting children and others at risk of sexual molestation.

Men and women who were released from prison having served sentences for sexual criminality, who have continued to co-operate with the Gardai above and beyond the weak obligations contained in the 2001 Sex Offenders Act, are now being forced out of their independent living accomadation and are being forced to move in with relatives who have children and incapacitated persons in their home.

Minister Hanifin is well aware of what is going on, yet insists on facilitating this criminal developemnt with savage and ill-considered cuts.

Minister Hanifin's Department, has written to certain released sex offenders and told them that they should contact their local community welfare officer, however, this is simply a slight of hand as those welfare officers have been forced to stay within tight financial guide lines. Even with verbal support from Gardai and other professionals, community welfare officers are being forced to refuse an appropriate amount of rent supplement to ensure that persons with convictions for sexual crime are not given access to children or other vulnerable people.

It is no surprise to this commentator that this Government continues to put its two fingers up at child protection, but surely there must be one decent member of Fianna Fail who is prepared to stand up and be counted. Do we have to wait for more Ryan and Murphy reports to see the impact of this Government's policies on little children.