Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 March 2015
555. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the judgment in a case (details supplied), if she will confirm if others are eligible to be included in any further redress in respect of pupils who were abused in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12707/15]
View answerOn 16th December 2014, I announced details of the Government's decision to authorise the State Claims Agency (SCA) to seek to settle claims of school child sexual abuse that come within the parameters of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) judgment and satisfy the Statue of Limitations. At that time I noted that there was a group of school abuse cases which had not been progressed for a number of reasons, including those which might have been discontinued after receiving letters from the SCA. I asked the SCA to review these cases to clarify the exact position as to whether the cases had been formally discontinued or not. The SCA has completed its review and my Department is considering its report. I expect to be in a position to report to Government on this matter shortly at which time the Government will consider whether any measures will be taken in relation to these cases. As I have outlined previously, due to a lack of available information in relation to the precise circumstances of the 45 cases current at the time of the ECHR judgment in January 2014 it is not possible to say in how many of these cases settlements will be offered. Since then a number of new cases have also been initiated or have sought to join the State to existing proceedings. The SCA will engage with the solicitors in these cases also. It is likely that there will be cases that will not come within the terms of the ECHR Decision.
