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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 32 together.

I have not yet received a copy of the Elliott report into the handling of allegations involving the alleged serious sexual assault by an adult volunteer. Scouting Ireland commissioned Mr. Ian Elliott to carry out a review into the organisation’s handling of this allegation of a serious sexual assault on an adult volunteer by another adult volunteer.

In 2017, Scouting Ireland engaged Mr. Ian Elliott to conduct a review of its child safeguarding-protection policies and procedures. An interim report was produced in October 2017 and a final report was produced in January 2018, both of which were subsequently submitted to my Department in March 2018. In view of the information available to me relating to the governance arrangements within Scouting Ireland, I decided to withhold the drawdown of further funding to the organisation under the youth service grant scheme until I am satisfied that the organisation's governance standards are up to the required level.

The report mentioned by the Deputy is not yet completed. Following on from the report on child protection matters, Scouting Ireland engaged a barrister to conduct a full investigation into the allegation, particularly with regard to how the matter was handled by senior volunteers. I will receive both reports once the investigation is completed.

As I said in response to a previous question, I met Scouting Ireland on 19 April and I was informed of the organisation's plan to reform the governance of the organisation and to put new structures in place. The organisation also confirmed its commitment to implement the recommendations relating to safeguarding and to carry out a full review of historic cases. Scouting Ireland is implementing the recommendations of the first report in terms of safeguarding and it is awaiting the second report. Both reports will be submitted to me.

There are a number of steps to be taken before I can be assured that Scouting Ireland has the proper governance arrangements in place to allow me to restore funding.

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