Mr. Ian Elliott:

I realise that the information I have given the committee is crude in that there is a lot more that needs to be provided to the committee in terms of detail. What I can say and what I have been particularly interested in identifying are locations and activities that seem to feature prominently in victims' stories. In respect of the victims with whom I have spoken, it is obvious that residential camps and jamborees are high-risk activities as far as the victims are concerned. Abuse is frequently reported from those activities. In a way, it makes sense. When a child or young person is removed from the protective care to which he or she is subject in the home environment, that child or young person is more vulnerable and it is harder to put in place good signed safeguarding processes for those activities.

It is important to mention that two members of my team were on site for 12 hours every day at the jamboree that took place this year in Stradbally. I was in the background monitoring that so there was a very good safeguarding presence at that jamboree, which was a very positive experience. Of the 6,000 young people who attended that jamboree, the vast majority had a wonderful experience, but we had 16 referrals. There were 16 or 18 situations that occurred within that setting. The point was that we had the cover and the staff, the staff provided that service and those situations were dealt with. We talked to An Garda Síochána and Tusla. It was dealt with very well. That is an example. I am sure all the people who attended the jamboree were unaware that during that very positive activity, that number of situations arose, but that is the reality.