Vol. 506 No. 4
58 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if the inspectorate supervising custodial facilities funded by his Department has the right to publish its findings; and if he will use the provisions of the Education Acts to set the inspectorate up as an independent agency. [15543/99]
In accordance with the Children Act, 1908, responsibility for the inspection of industrial and reformatory schools rests with the Minister for Education and Science and with the chief inspector of schools. Under their direction, inspection of these residential centres is carried out by a designated inspector of industrial and reformatory schools. At present, there are two industrial schools and three reformatory schools. The inspector, and a child care adviser under his direction, have responsibility for monitoring and for reporting and advising on standards of management and on the protection, care, safety and wellbeing of the children. Reports and findings are not published by the inspectorate. The Children Bill, which will replace the Children Act, 1908, will make provision for the inspection of all aspects of residential care in these centres. Special national schools, attached to these centres, are inspected by the primary inspectorate of my Department.
Because of these developments, I do not believe it is necessary to establish the inspectorate as an independent agency. The inspectorate functions very well as an essential and integral part of the Department and it is my view that, operating in this way, it can make the most worthwhile and effective contribution to the work of the Department and to the development and evaluation of the education system.
