Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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I ask that the Department of Education and Science open a book of condolence in that Department for the victims of child abuse. I am putting this request on the record because it was made to me by quite a number of victims of child abuse recently.

Virtually all the children in the reformatories, industrial schools and Marlborough House, which the Department of Education was directly responsible for, were of school-going age. The Department had a statutory responsibility to fund, inspect and supervise the welfare and education of those children while they remained in those institutions up to when they were 16. It was negligent over the decades and failed to do what it was statutorily obliged to in protecting the well-being and welfare of the children and care for their needs in those institutions. The Department allowed the needs of the institutions to be put before the needs of the children and consequently the educational provision and attainment, along with the well-being of these children, was "deplorable", according to the Ryan report.

One can pick any of the conclusions to give an indication of the dreadful operations in these institutions which were ostensibly and statutorily under the care of the Department of Education. Chapter 6.01 of volume IV states:

Physical and emotional abuse and neglect were features of the institutions. Sexual abuse occurred in many of them, particularly boys' institutions.

Chapter 19.06 of volume III states:

More than 90% of all witnesses reported being physically abused while in out-of-home care. In addition to being hit and beaten witnesses described other forms of abuse such as being flogged, kicked and otherwise physically assaulted, scalded, burned and held under water. Witnesses reported being beaten publicly in front of other staff, residents, patients and pupils as well as in private. Many reports were heard of witnesses being beaten naked and partially clothed, both in private and in front of others. They reported being beaten and physically assaulted with implements that were for the specific purpose of inflicting pain and punishment, such as leather straps, bamboo canes and wooden sticks. In addition, witnesses gave evidence that everyday implements were routinely utilised for the purpose of striking children. Witnesses described pervasive abuse as part of their daily lives.

That is an example of the regime which operated in 216 institutions throughout the country, mainly industrial schools and reformatories, which were under the aegis of the Department of Education. It had the responsibility to finance, inspect and supervise the facilities and it had responsibility for the 165,000 children of the nation put under care in them. The Department was grossly negligent of them.

The Department of Education was for decades a major obstacle to children and their parents obtaining any redress or satisfaction when they made complaints about the dreadful treatment they experienced in the institutions under its supervision. Not only did the Department neglect these people but it was also an obstacle to them achieving any redress.

The Department, which has failed the children entrusted to its care, should as the State institution with the greatest specific responsibility make a symbolic statement or gesture of apology and atonement by opening a book of condolence in its main office on Marlborough Street in Dublin 1.

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy Costello for putting this matter on the Adjournment this evening. I apologise as the Minister, Deputy O'Keeffe, cannot be here to take the matter himself.

In 1999, the Taoiseach offered an apology to victims of abuse, during which a range of measures were announced to address or alleviate the effects of child abuse. These included the establishment of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse and a dedicated national counselling service. Subsequent to this, the Government also established the Residential Institutions Redress Board to provide compensation to victims of institutional abuse and, more recently, the education finance board, which provides education grants to former residents and their families.

The Taoiseach's apology was an admission that the State had failed in its duties towards children who were removed from their families and who were totally dependent on the State for their most basic of needs. This apology has been reiterated several times in the weeks following the publication of the report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse by the Taoiseach, Deputy Brian Cowen. In the Dáil last Friday, the Minister for Education and Science apologised separately and unreservedly for the failings of his own Department during the period under investigation by the commission.

The Ryan report contains 20 formal recommendations and the first four are placed under the heading "To alleviate or otherwise address the effects of the abuse on those who suffered". One recommendation - the issue of erecting a memorial to survivors - has been the subject of consultations with the Office of Public Works. It is proposed to hold further discussions with the survivor groups to advance implementation of this recommendation.

The report also made recommendations relating to education, counselling and family tracing services. Currently, funding is being provided for education and counselling purposes and Barnardos is being funded to provide a family tracing service for former residents, which is highly valued by them. The Minister of State with responsibility for children and youth affairs, Deputy Barry Andrews, has been asked to bring to Government before the end of July a comprehensive implementation plan to put in place the recommendations on how children should be cared for now and in the future.

On 3 June, the Taoiseach and members of the Cabinet met with survivors of child abuse and their representatives to begin the process of discussion of the issues arising from the report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse. During that meeting, the Taoiseach confirmed the Government's acceptance of and commitment to the full implementation of the recommendations contained in the report. In addition, he conveyed the Government's commitment to addressing the needs of survivors and other issues arising from the report in consultation with representatives of survivors of abuse. This meeting represented the beginning of a process of engagement with the representatives of the survivors.

A range of issues was raised by the survivor groups during that meeting, which include contributions by the congregations, redress, future needs of the former residents, criminal records, counselling and therapy services and a memorial. All of these will now be given further consideration by the Government. The issue raised by the Deputy of opening a book of condolences will be considered in that context and in the course of further engagement with the survivor groups.

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter and all Members of this House for their unanimous approval of the all-party motion on the Ryan report last week. I again assure all Members of the Government's commitment to addressing the needs of survivors.