Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
625. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that the victims of abuse in Protestant-ethos institutions are treated equally with victims of abuse in other schools in Ireland, including other religious schools, by changing the terms of reference of her Department’s scoping inquiry to ensure they are pluralist and reflective of a non-sectarian republic. [37924/23]
View answer635. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education what action can be taken to address the failure of the Church of Ireland to thus far properly treat the victims of a cleric (details supplied). [37990/23]
View answer636. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of confidentiality agreements, otherwise known as 'gagging clauses’, that have been imposed on Church of Ireland-schools, associated institutions, or the church itself, in relation to information regarding victims of abuse claimants in schools run by or associated with the Church of Ireland; if this runs contrary to the announced scoping inquiry by her Department into abuse in schools in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37991/23]
View answer637. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education if she can confirm if the homes run by an order (details supplied), that also operated as schools, will be covered in the scoping inquiry by her Department. [37992/23]
View answer638. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education if she can confirm if the child abuse in a school (details supplied) will be covered in her Department’s scoping inquiry of abuse in schools in Ireland. [37993/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 625 and 635 to 638, inclusive, together.
I am very conscious of the enormous trauma which has been endured by all survivors of abuse. The Scoping Inquiry, which is independently led, was established by the Government in response to revelations of historical sexual abuse in a number of day and boarding schools run by religious orders. Having regard to this, and a challenging timeframe for the Scoping Inquiry to complete its work, the priority focus of the Scoping Inquiry is on day and boarding schools run by religious orders. It is not the role of the Scoping Inquiry to make findings of fact in respect of individual schools or individual allegations of abuse.
The Scoping Inquiry’s remit is to inform the Government’s response to the revelations of historical sexual abuse in day and boarding schools run by religious orders. Nonetheless, the Deputy may wish to note that elements of the Scoping Inquiry will focus on the school sector as a whole, including an analysis of child protection systems within both the primary and post-primary sector. The Deputy may also wish to note that it is envisaged the recommended response could also form a template for Government responses in respect of other settings.
As the Deputy may be aware, the Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, also known as the Ryan Report, has extensively documented the abuse of children in industrial and reformatory schools and other residential settings, including the causes, nature, circumstances and extent of such abuse.
The Department of Education’s Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools provides guidance to schools in relation to their responsibilities under the Children First Act 2015 and the Children First National Guidance 2017. The procedures require that, in any situation where a member of school personnel receives an allegation or has a suspicion that a child may have been abused or neglected, is being abused or neglected, or is at risk of being abused or neglected, he or she shall without delay report the matter to a Designated Liaison Person. The Designated Liaison Person is responsible for ensuring that any reasonable grounds for concern are reported to Tusla.
