Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 November 2016
136. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he or his Department has received correspondence from a person (details supplied) requesting an apology from the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33379/16]
View answerI can confirm that my Department is in receipt of correspondence from the person referred to by the Deputy. I have every sympathy for anybody who was the subject of child abuse.
The position is that all schools are managed by the school Board of Management, on behalf of the school patrons or trustees. My Department supplies funds and resources to schools to function and sets out various guidelines and policies to be observed by schools. My Department does not run schools on a day to day basis.
The Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school, and it is the Board of Management which employs the staff in a school. As the Deputy will be aware, the State cannot be held vicariously liable for the actions of a teacher given that the State is not the employer of teachers in schools.
The Health Service Executive run a national counselling service for victims of sexual abuse. This specialist service provides confidential counselling, free of charge to adults who have experienced child abuse in their family, community or institutional setting. Child abuse includes emotional, physical, sexual abuse and neglect. Counselling is available at 60 locations throughout Ireland.
The State Claims Agency manages personal injury and negligence claims brought against certain State authorities. The contact address for that body is: State Claims Agency, Treasury Building, Grand Canal Street, Dublin 2.
