CARI Child Sex Abuse Charity's Waiting List For Services Doubles

Wednesday, 1 June 2022 11:45

By Caoimhe Harney

CARI has two centres which are based in Limerick and Dublin.

The number of child sex abuse victims seeking support from Children at Risk in Ireland (CARI) has more than doubled and its waiting list is now the longest it has ever been in its 33-year history.

There are currently 254 children waiting to access CARI's services.

Speaking on Kfm CARI general manager, Colm O'Brien."Our waiting list more than doubled in 2020 from 92 to 198, and we now have 254 children waiting to access vital services.

"We work with the child, and we work with non offending carers in their orbit.

"We bring them into our centres for sessions once a week," he explained.

Mr O Brien says that it takes at least a year for a child attending sessions to understand what has happened to them.

The charity estimates it will take five years to clear the current waiting list unless the Government provides emergency funding.

CARI is reliant on state funding from Tulsa as well as fundraising but says the surge in demand for its services is now beyond the remit of Tusla

Speaking to Clem Ryan on Wednesday morning's Kildare Today, CARI general manager, Colm O'Brien said a "tsunami" was upon them, listen back to the full interview here:

CARI Careline: 0818 924567.

People who are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, click here for a list of support services.

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