Written Answers. - Sexual Abuse.
Paul McGrath
Question:
175
Mr. McGrath
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
if details of a petition in May 1969 by parents of children in a school (details supplied) in County Offaly is available in his Department; the acknowledgement or response, if any, sent to this petition; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5741/99]
Paul McGrath
Question:
176
Mr. McGrath
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
if his Department will offer support and counselling to abuse victims in view of earlier statements that his Department had failed to take action in response to a letter alleging inappropriate actions of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5742/99]
Paul McGrath
Question:
177
Mr. McGrath
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
if he will make a full apology and give an explanation for failing to take action as a result of complaints received in his Department to the six victims who suffered abuse at the hands of a teacher in a school (details supplied) in County Offaly.
[5743/99]
Charles Flanagan
Question:
181
Mr. Flanagan
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
the proposals, if any, he has to introduce a scheme of counselling to victims of a person (details supplied) in County Galway convicted of sexual abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5414/99]
Charles Flanagan
Question:
185
Mr. Flanagan
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
if his Department will issue a formal reply to a written complaint made in 1982 by the victim of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly convicted of sexual abuse, which was not acted upon by his Department due to a system failure; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5418/99]
Charles Flanagan
Question:
186
Mr. Flanagan
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
the steps, if any, he will take to initiate an inquiry in the matter of a case of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly convicted of sexual abuse in order that a revised system of accountability is established in his Department by way of new procedures to ensure that primary school children are protected; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5419/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 175, 176, 177, 181, 185 and 186 together.
I would like to refer the Deputies to my reply to Deputy Bruton's Priority Question of 2 December 1998 where I dealt with this matter at length. On that occasion I expressed the firm view that the Department's response to the complaint submitted in 1982 was seriously lacking. Furthermore, as an indication of my willingness to be as open and helpful as possible on this particularly disturbing case, I offered access to the Department's file on the matter to any Deputy in the House with an interest in the case. I can assure the Deputies that this offer still stands.
I am strongly of the view that people who suffer abuse of the kind which occurred in this case should have available to them adequate professional counselling and support services where they need it to deal with the hurt and trauma caused by the abuse. For adults who were victims of sexual abuse as children such services are available from the health boards, while my Department, through the psychological service, focuses on the needs of children. The provision of counselling and support services to people who as children were victims of sexual abuse is one of the issues being examined by a Cabinet sub-committee set up under my chairmanship last December to review issues relating to sexual abuse. One of the key objectives of the sub-committee is to find effective ways to help victims of abuse access the kind of supports they need to help them with the long-term effects of the abuse. The sub-committee, as part of its work, is considering developments in this area internationally. It hopes to report to the Cabinet in the near future.
In relation to the letter referred to by Deputy Flanagan, I accept that the author should have received an immediate response when it was received in 1982. I am not sure if he would wish to have a response at this stage or if that would be in any way useful to him 17 years later. I am, however, prepared to make officials of my Department available to the person in question should he wish to discuss issues related to his letter.
As the Deputies are aware, this case has been dealt with in the courts following a Garda investigation and accordingly a full inquiry has already been conducted. I am satisfied that the existing procedures within my Department, which are much more stringent than those applying in the 1960s or in 1982, are sufficient to ensure that a situation like that which arose in this case cannot be repeated. I have instructed my officials to ensure that procedures relating to sex abuse should be kept under continuous review to ensure the adequate protection of school children. I can assure Deputies that there is no complacency in my Department on this matter, as demonstrated in particular by the current review of procedures which is taking place with the Department of Health and Children. The completion of this review is a high priority. I will ensure that updated guidelines will be issued to all schools as soon as possible after that review is completed.
The Government has also taken action which has as its aim the more general protection of children from child abuse. Earlier this month the Government approved the preparation of a Bill which would provide for greater protection of children from the actions of sex offenders, including the establishment of a sex offenders register, the principal focus of which would be offenders against children. The Bill would also give the courts power to order post-release supervision of sex offenders.
I am sure that this House is aware that I deplore the abuse which occurred in this case but Deputies will also be aware that the allegations relating to the teacher concerned were not brought to the attention of the Department until 1982 while the abuse actually occurred in the mid to late 1960s. The aspect of this case which leaves the Department open to serious criticism relates to the failure to take action in 1982 to ensure, as far as the Department could, that the allegations then made were properly investigated. I accept, as I have stated previously, that the Departments response at that time was seriously lacking and, although I was not Minister at that time, I deeply regret that.
Finally, in response to Deputy Bruton's query, I wish to emphasise that, while I am aware of media reports indicating that complaints were made against the teacher in question in 1969, I have been informed by officials of my Department that there is no record of any such complaints or petition having been sent to the Department at that time. Deputies will appreciate that I am not in a position to convey these details directly to the victims themselves, as their names and addresses have not been disclosed. If they contact my Department seeking this information it will, of course, be made available to them.
