Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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57. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her intentions to co-operate with any potential inquiry into abuse allegations in a secondary school (details supplied) and other educational institutions. [58252/22]

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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I appreciate that the issue of the accusations of abuse in Blackrock College has to be dealt with sensitively. I believe that the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and other members of the Government are dealing with it with the greatest of sensitivity. There is an acknowledgement that an investigation or inquiry is needed. What is the Minister's view on the necessity of such an inquiry? What type of form would such an inquiry take, seeing as the Department of Education would be to the forefront of any inquiry into what happened at Blackrock College and other religious-run schools?

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I reiterate how heartbreaking and disturbing these revelations and all revelations of abuse are. Sexual abuse of a child by a teacher, school employee or any other person is a repugnant act. It is also a criminal act. In the first instance, it is, therefore, critical that crimes that have been committed are fully and thoroughly investigated by An Garda Síochána, and that process must not be compromised. I have met with a number of survivors in recent days and will continue to do so. I appreciate how bravely so many have openly shared their own harrowing experiences with me and I wish to give voice to the enormous hurt and trauma they and so many others have endured.

It is important that there be an effective and survivor-led response from the Government. The Government is considering how best this can be achieved, having regard to both any Garda investigation and the wishes of survivors. As I said, I have engaged with a number of survivors over recent days to get a better understanding of what they would like to see happen and I will continue to do so as a priority in the coming days.

There is considerable expertise and experience in this area, and it may also be helpful if we were to examine previous inquiries of different types and identify what lessons we can take from them in respect of how they operated and the outcomes achieved and, in particular, the impact on survivors. The Department of Education and I are committed to fully supporting whatever actions are agreed.

I am also conscious that these revelations may have raised concerns about present day arrangements. In that regard, it is important to share with the House the significant changes that have taken place in our school environment since the era to which many of these allegations relate. Today we have a robust suite of measures in place to protect our children in the school environment.

The Department's Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017 provides guidance to schools on their responsibilities under the Children First Act 2015 and the Children First national guidance 2017.

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Thank you, Minister. We will let Deputy Ó Ríordáin back in, after which you may finish the reply.

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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I appreciate the Minister's response but, in tabling this question, I had assumed there would be a good chance that by the time we spoke today an inquiry would have been announced. I understand that she is to make contact with Opposition spokespeople as to how best this inquiry could be formulated. I also understand that it is the Government's intention to have an inquiry. I am happy that the Minister is committed to having a survivor-led inquiry. It is important that the Government takes advice on any ongoing Garda investigations.

The Minister spoke about how things have changed since the period in which some of these abuses took place, yet it is clear that some of those who were overseeing these institutions at that time are still in place. There are accusations that people who were involved in abuse still reside in these institutions. There are also accusations that people in positions of authority were approached 20 years ago and were told to return only if they had a solicitor. While the regulations and legislation and the oversight by the Department may have changed in the interim, the personnel who oversaw this and had responsibility for the care of children are still in place. What we need, at least from today, and I acknowledge that there will be statements on this later, is clarity on when and how this inquiry will be established and when it will take place.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I acknowledge the Deputy's sincerity and the sincerity and unanimity across the House in expressing our revulsion and unequivocal condemnation of what has been visited upon so many children, young people, now adults, who continue to live with this repugnant trauma. I acknowledge, as the survivors have said to me, that they live with it, their families live with it and their wider communities live with it.

The Deputy is 100% correct that it is my intention to consult all Opposition spokespersons, who will shortly receive notification in that regard. I very much want them to be part of the engagement and consideration of what we are about. He has been clear, and we have all been very clear, of the importance of the voice of the survivors. It is for that reason I am currently engaging with them. He is also correct that, as I have outlined, we have to be clear that there will be no impact, rightly, on the Garda inquiry, which must continue.

This is an absolute priority, and I am happy to work across the House and with everybody to ensure we get the best possible outcome in respect of the type and scope of the inquiry.

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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I reiterate that I believe the Government is dealing with this in a proper manner.

The Minister is dealing with it with the sensitivity it demands. However, weeks have passed and there needs to be a sense of when this inquiry will take place and what its nature will be. We must also ensure that none of this can ever happen again. While the Minister rightly points to changes in the system over the past number of years and decades, this needs to feed into the citizen' assembly on education to ensure that this deference to religious institutions and fee-paying schools in the system can be broken and that every child in every school is protected by the State. I look forward to the Minister's engagement and, hopefully, if not by the end of today, we will have clarity on how and when this inquiry will take place by the end of the week.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate the Deputy's genuine determination to engage with this, which is replicated across the House. I welcome that. It is important to note that we do have robust child protection measures in our schools, oversight of which is conducted by our inspectorate. Notwithstanding that, we are in a situation where we need to ensure that an appropriate inquiry is put in place to deal with all the abhorrent revelations that have come to light. To do that, it is important that there is sufficient engagement with all concerned. We will move at a pace.