Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 11 Feb 2003

Vol. 561 No. 1

Written Answers. - Children in Care.

Phil Hogan

Ceist:

386 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Health and Children if the Department of Education and Science was consulted when the working group on Standards for Children's Residential Centres was established in 1994; if concerns were expressed in 1986 and 1989 regarding the welfare of children in St. Joseph's in Kilkenny; the action taken to investigate those concerns; if a person (details supplied) was interviewed in the course of these investigations; the outcome of the investigations; and if the complete report on Madonna House will be published. [3554/03]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. B. Lenihan):

The Department of Education and Science was not a member of the working group on the Standards for Children's Residential Centres as the Department of Health had sole responsibility for the residential centres. Observations on the standards were sought from the special schools under the auspices of the Department of Education and Science.

In relation to St. Joseph's, Kilkenny, this matter is currently before the courts and it would not be appropriate for me to comment on it at this time.

An abridged report of the inquiry into the operation and management of Madonna House was published in May 1996. On the basis of legal advice received at that time, the abridged report contained as much of the report as possible for publication.