John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 169: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a hospital (details supplied) in Dublin 4 will be included as a relevant institution for the purposes of the redress board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14100/04]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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Section 4 of the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002 enables additional institutions that are identified as reformatory schools, industrial schools, orphanages, children's homes and special schools, in which children were placed and resident and in respect of which a public body had a regulatory or inspection function, to be added to the Schedule.

My Department has received correspondence from both individuals and survivor groups identifying a number of additional institutions that may be eligible for inclusion in the Schedule. Discussions have taken place between my Department and other Departments that may have provided a regulatory or inspection function in the operation of these facilities in order to ascertain whether these institutions are in fact eligible for inclusion. The initial information received in some cases was limited due to the long period that had elapsed since these institutions were closed and therefore the process of verifying each of these institutions has been time consuming and is continuing.

I can confirm for the Deputy that the hospital named in the question is one into which inquiries are being made as to its eligibility for inclusion. It is my intention that a list of additional institutions will be brought before both Houses of the Oireachtas as soon as the verification process is completed.