AQW 26825/17-22

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 03/12/2021
Answered On Date: 15/12/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail the amount spent on safeguarding children from online sexual abuse in each of the last five years.

Answer:

The requested information is not available.

My department provides funding to a range of bodies to safeguard children from any form of abuse, and to support any child who is the victim of abuse that is referred to child protection services. That includes children who are the victims of any form of abuse online.

In addition, my department led on the development of an on-line safety strategy and action plan for children and young people. An estimated £457.2k will be invested by my department to implement actions under the strategy in 2022/23, including the appointment of an on-line safety co-ordinator in the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland.