Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

When I became aware of governance issues within Scouting Ireland I decided to withhold the drawdown of further funding to the organisation under the youth service grant scheme.

I wrote to the organisation on 13 April advising it of this decision and outlining my concerns. I also sought an urgent meeting to discuss governance issues within the organisation so as to give Scouting Ireland the opportunity to satisfy me that the organisation's governance standards are up to the required level.

I subsequently had a useful meeting with Scouting Ireland on 19 April and I was briefed on the organisation's plan to reform the governance of the organisation and put new structures in place. Scouting Ireland also confirmed its commitment to implement Mr. Ian Elliott's recommendations in relation to safeguarding - his first report - and that it would also carry out a full review of historic cases.

The Garda vetting of the individual referred to in media reports is in progress. The leadership of Scouting Ireland informed me that the organisation was involved in a governance process and reforms in the way it does its work, in particular at board level. These changes will be discussed at a special board meeting of the membership in June and in October.

Scouting Ireland commissioned Mr. Ian Elliott to carry out a review into the organisation's handling of this allegation of the serious sexual assault on an adult volunteer by another adult volunteer. While this alleged assault took place in 2009, as the Deputy will be aware, it was only reported within the organisation in 2016.

Mr. Elliott's report into this case resulted in the engagement by Scouting Ireland of a barrister to conduct a full investigation into this allegation, particularly with regard to the handling of the matter by certain senior volunteers. I have not yet received Mr. Elliott's report on this case but will receive it, together with the report of the barrister's investigation, once completed.

Scouting Ireland is part funded by my Department. It has received funding of €438,168 so far from my Department in 2018 and it is funded up until the end of June. There are a number of steps to be taken before I can be assured that Scouting Ireland has the proper governance arrangements in place which would allow me to consider the restoration of funding.

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