Vol. 457 No. 7
191 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Education the measures, if any, taken to investigate allegations of physical and sexual abuse in Finglas Children's Centre from February 1988, to date; the date on which each measure was taken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15912/95]
Allegations of the type referred to by the Deputy were originally brought to the attention of my Department early in 1988.
The allegations in question were investigated by my Department at that time. The only specifically identifiable allegation related to an alleged assault on a boy by a staff member. The incident in question was alleged to have taken place in 1985. The investigation found that what had been involved was a case of necessary physical restraint of a boy by care staff, which a member of the domestic staff had interpreted as an assault.
Due to the non-specific nature of the remaining allegations and the absence of adequate supporting evidence, no further action was taken at that time.
In 1994, following a repetition of the original allegations, the Garda were requested to conduct a detailed investigation into the matters in question. A report on the outcome of the Garda investigation was forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The Director of Public Prosecutions concluded that there was absolutely no evidence to substantiate the allegations.
