Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will be absolutely honest and say that I am very aware of Deputy Ó Laoghaire's personal engagement in relation to this matter. I will not lead the Deputy astray regarding the date. I will check it and get back to the Deputy today with the information. I want to reiterate that I am very cognisant of and I fully understand the importance of the view of the survivors being at the heart of what we are seeking to achieve here. I want acknowledge that the report of the consultative board, which was a very significant body of work, has been funded by the Department and externally facilitated. The fact that it was externally facilitated is hugely important. There was an independent facilitation of the entire process. Along with other relevant reports and submissions, it is under active consideration by the Department with input from other relevant Departments. Deputy Ó Laoghaire outlined the variety of areas of interest of survivors and he will recognise that they are cross-departmental. We are engaged in a significant body of work. In terms of the body of work and the reports provided, I want to acknowledge that it has been valuable because it is these reports and submissions that are providing an insight into the issues which the survivors have nominated as being of most importance. The Department will continue to work with other Departments in many of the areas the Deputy highlighted, particularly in relation to areas of health and all the different issues that have been raised and were worked through in other instances. It is a significant body of work and it is continuing.

I appreciate that we need the quickest resolution possible to this and I appreciate the urgency. It will be in the shortest timeframe possible. I am happy to keep the Deputy updated in that regard. A significant cross-departmental approach is being taken. In terms of resources, there are other agencies involved, aside from the Department of Education, and we are moving that work ahead as quickly as we can.

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