(LRC Revised)

Number 49 of 1998

PROTECTIONS FOR PERSONS REPORTING CHILD ABUSE ACT 1998

REVISED

Updated to 1 February 2019

Changes to legislation

as of 10 July 2026, this Act is up to date with all changes known to be in force.

This Revised Act is an administrative consolidation of the

Protections for Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998

. It is prepared by the Law Reform Commission in accordance with its function under

the

Law Reform Commission Act 1975

(3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake revision and consolidation

of statute law.

All Acts up to and including

Local Government Act 2019

(1/2019), enacted 25 January 2019, and all statutory instruments up to and including

Brown Crab (Conservation Of Stocks) Regulations 2019

(S.I. No. 26 of 2019), made 1 February 2019, were considered in the preparation of

this Revised Act.

Disclaimer: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act,

the Law Reform Commission can assume no responsibility for and give no guarantees,

undertakings or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness or up to date nature

of the information provided and does not accept any liability whatsoever arising from

any errors or omissions. Please notify any errors, omissions and comments by email

to

revisedacts@lawreform.ie.

Number

49

of

1998

PROTECTIONS FOR PERSONS REPORTING CHILD ABUSE ACT 1998

REVISED

Updated to 1 February 2019

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

Section

1.

Interpretation.

2.

Designated officers.

3.

Protection from civil liability of persons who have reported child abuse.

4.

Protection of employees from penalisation for having reported child abuse.

5.

False reporting of child abuse.

6.

Saving.

7.

Short title and commencement.

Acts Referred to

Health Act, 1970

1970, No. 1

Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851

14 & 15 Vict., c. 93

Terms of Employment (Information) Act, 1994

1994, No. 5

Unfair Dismissals Act, 1977

1977, No. 10

Unfair Dismissals Acts, 1977 to 1993

Number

49

of

1998

PROTECTIONS FOR PERSONS REPORTING CHILD ABUSE ACT 1998

REVISED

Updated to 1 February 2019

AN ACT TO PROVIDE PROTECTION FROM CIVIL LIABILITY TO PERSONS WHO REPORT CHILD ABUSE

IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, TO PROVIDE PROTECTION TO SUCH PERSONS FROM PENALISATION

BY THEIR EMPLOYERS, TO PROVIDE FOR AN OFFENCE IN RESPECT OF THE FALSE REPORTING OF

CHILD ABUSE AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS. [23

rd December

, 1998]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS

Annotations

Editorial Notes

E1

Act included among Acts referred to in definition of “health and social services” (23.12.2004) by

Health Act 2004

(42/2004), s. 2 and sch. 1, S.I. No. 886 of 2004.

Annotations

Editorial Notes

E1

Act included among Acts referred to in definition of “health and social services” (23.12.2004) by

Health Act 2004

(42/2004), s. 2 and sch. 1, S.I. No. 886 of 2004.

Section

1.

Interpretation.

2.

Designated officers.

3.

Protection from civil liability of persons who have reported child abuse.

4.

Protection of employees from penalisation for having reported child abuse.

5.

False reporting of child abuse.

6.

Saving.

7.

Short title and commencement.

Number

49

of

1998