Sexual harm against children in Ireland is escalating, evolving and increasingly driven by online and AI-enabled threats. That’s according to national child abuse agency, Children at Risk Ireland (CARI) who launch their new future strategy in Dublin this morning.
CARI’s 2026-2030 strategy – entitled ‘Ensuring Child Sexual Abuse Never Shapes a Child’s Future’ – will be launched by Norma Foley TD, Minister for Children, Disability and Equality at 9.30am, Europe House in Dublin.
“Our referrals for sexually harmful behaviour amongst children are increasing yearly,” says CARI chief executive, Emer O’Neill. “This refers to children showing sexualised behaviour that is unsafe, inappropriate for their age, or harmful to themselves or others.”
Ms O’Neill says there’s a clear link between inappropriate sexualised behaviour and the increasing exposure to internet pornography experienced by children today. “Children under 12 cannot process what they see, so they act it out, often with other siblings or peers. Parents really struggle when dealing with this kind of behaviour, but if it is not tackled effectively, it can just generate further cycles of abuse.”
In 2024, just 8 percent of CARI’s referrals related to sexually harmful behaviour. By 2025, this figure had risen to 27 percent. A further 10 percent involved both child sexual abuse and sexually harmful behaviour. Referrals relating solely to child sexual abuse accounted for 63 percent of cases.
Ms O’Neill says the national and international context is alarming. “We are very seriously concerned about the growing online and AI-driven risks, and the changing nature of sexual harm against children. National crime data and frontline service trends point to earlier exposure and increasing online exploitation.”
“Sexual harm against children is not only persisting, it is also evolving. National figures show that children continue to account for a significant proportion of sexual offence victims, while our own services are seeing the impact of online exposure, grooming and harmful sexual content on children than ever before.”
Ms O’ Neill says national data provides further context. Central Statistics Office figures from 2024 show that half of all recorded sexual offence victims were under 18. Age-specific data for 2025 is not yet available. “However, overall offence levels remain high, with over 3,617 recorded sexual offence incidents in the first three quarters of 2025.”
CARI’s 2026–2030 Strategy sets out a clear commitment to shaping a more positive future for child victims of sexual abuse. child’s future. It focuses on amplifying children’s voices and delivering trauma‑informed support that helps them to thrive.
“The rise in referrals involving sexually harmful behaviour reflects earlier identification of concerning behaviour and the changing environments in which harm occurs,” says Ms O’Neill. “Increased exposure to online pornography, online grooming and image-based abuse is having a real impact on children.”
“With the emergence of AI-enabled image manipulation, we are deeply concerned that children are increasingly at risk of encountering harmful content they should never be exposed to. At CARI, we care for every child, and our focus is firmly on prevention, protection and supporting families with compassion and expertise.”
Sarah Jane Judge, Chair of CARI, says their new strategy “provides a clear and sustainable direction for CARI, grounded in evidence and lived experience. Protecting children requires shared responsibility and the ability to adapt as risks evolve, particularly in digital environments.”
“Government, public services, communities and technology companies must renew their commitment to protecting children. Urgent action is needed to address sexual abuse risks, both online and offline. Safeguarding children must remain a shared national responsibility.”