Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 18 May 1999

Vol. 504 No. 7

Written Answers. - Departmental Correspondence.

Alan Shatter

Question:

55 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Education and Science if a meeting took place in St. Laurence's in Finglas on 21 March 1988 at which an official of his Department attended; if the meeting discussed allegations that children had been abused; the action, if any, taken regarding this matter subsequent to this meeting; and if he will make available any existing departmental note or memorandum of this meeting. [11292/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

My Department's records confirm that two officials of my Department attended a meeting with the director of the Finglas children's centre at the centre on 21 March 1988.

The centre, which is owned by the State, was operated by the De La Salle order from the time of its commencement in 1972 until 1994 when the order relinquished all involvement with the centre. The post of director of the centre was held by a member of the De La Salle order throughout this period. The centre is comprised of St. Michael's remand and assessment centre and St. Laurence's industrial school.

The Department's records indicate that the meeting in question had been convened at the request of the Department to pursue complaints made to the Department by a then serving member of staff of the centre. The complaints related chiefly to matters of financial management and control aspects of the centre's operations.

However, the records also indicate that one of the issues complained of by the staff member was that there had been rumours circulating in the centre about boys being interfered with sexually. It was complained that this matter had been reported to the then director and had not been investigated.

The Department's record indicates that the Department officials advised the director that all such complaints should be brought to the Department's attention immediately and should be investigated thoroughly. The director was also informed by my Department's officials that fear of scandal should not inhibit proper investigation of such allegations and, that neither fear of embarrassment to the administration nor compassion for the perpetrators should inhibit prosecution, where there was evidence to warrant this.

Subsequent to the meeting in question, my Department wrote in August 1988 to the director of the centre seeking a full response to the matters which had been discussed at the meeting. The director responded to the Department by letter in December 1988 stating that the allegations relating to sexual abuse were unfounded. There is no record of any further action at that time. In 1994, following fresh allegations of abuse at the centre, a Garda investigation was carried out. No prosecution was brought as a result of that investigation.

More recently, arising from further allegations of ill-treatment and abuse at the centre, the gardaí in conjunction with the Eastern Health Board, my Department and the present management of the Finglas centre, have been engaged in a look-back investigation into all reports of abuse which have come to light in relation to the centre. My Department and the present management of the centre have provided every possible assistance to this investigation and have made available all relevant Departmental records, including records relating to the meeting to which the Deputy refers.

Arising from this investigation, the Garda has recently sent files to the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to allegations of abuse at the centre.