Child abuse reporting gets long awaited legal backing

Teachers, gardai and nurses will be legally obliged to report any suspicions that a child is being abused to the new child protection agency.

The long awaited Children First Bill will finally give legal force to the abuse reporting guidelines that have been in place for many years.

It will apply to a wide range of people who have contact with children, including pre-school carers, priests, youth workers, social workers and probation officers.