Child Abuse

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 July 2014

Tuesday, 15 July 2014

Ceisteanna (279)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

279. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills in respect of cases pending relating to allegations of sexual abuse in day schools, if she will report on the number of such cases; the number which have been contacted on behalf of the Chief State Solicitor's office to inform them that the decision of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Louise O'Keeffe v. Ireland is not applicable in their case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30836/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

My Department has obtained legal advice on the implications of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) judgment for outstanding school child abuse cases. The State Claims Agency has been reviewing the 45 cases current at the time of the judgment to identify those that come within the parameters of the judgment and this review has been completed and submitted to my Department for consideration. The State Claims Agency has also confirmed that in addition to the 45 cases, they have received an additional 75 cases since the judgment. I understand that the State Claims Agency's solicitors has been in correspondence with the plaintiff's solicitors in one case. My Department is considering the issues relating to the ECHR judgment in association with the Attorney General and I will be reporting back to Government on these matters, including on current litigation in the near future. It is the Government's intention to seek a fair and reasonable outcome to those cases that come within the parameters of the ECHR judgment.