Dr. John Lawlor:

It is important that we have clarity on the matter. At previous appearances before the committee, I made clear that the order and scale of files being opened every year was approximately 70, and I think it is approximately 86 this year to date. We are pleased that more people are reporting. The numbers will always be incremental. It is important to us that we maintain our reporting record. I will await Mr. Elliott's work in order to be definitive, but my observation is that since Scouting Ireland started and professional staff were engaged, the reporting record has been strong. Fourteen years before management reporting was introduced, the reporting record was in place.

I will address the issue of reportable files, on which Mr. Begley might comment further. The threshold for not reporting is low and the vast majority of disclosures to us are reported. In fact, it works the other way. Often, Tusla will revert to us and state that a case does not meet its threshold. Scouting Ireland always errs on the side of caution in reporting. That was my responsibility as mandated person until that changed with the introduction of the safeguarding manager. The reporting record is good and, in the majority of cases, we err on the side of caution and report. We will then be advised by Tusla as to how we will proceed. Mr. Begley might wish to comment further.