Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1215: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to a statement which a person (details supplied) sent to her Department at the end of March 1988 regarding the industrial and reformatory school system; if her attention has further been drawn to the statement referred to in a meeting on 18 March 1988 between the person who wrote same and the then Secretary General of her Department; if the statement referred to a discussion with a member of the Garda Síochána regarding a possible fraud in one of the schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40167/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am aware of the statement regarding the industrial and reformatory school system referred to in the Deputy's question. I can also confirm that this statement was provided in its entirety for the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse in June 2003. My Department, however, has no record of the meeting on 18 March 1988 to which the Deputy refers.

In regard to allegations of fraud, I can confirm that audit investigations were made in 1988 and a more comprehensive audit and evaluation took place between 1991 and 1994. Certain matters which came to light during the course of the comprehensive audit were reported to the Garda Síochána in December 1992 and the Revenue Commissioners in July 1993. As a result of irregularities which came to light, a member of the staff of Trinity House school was suspended from duty in November 1992. The detailed Garda investigation into alleged fraud at Trinity House failed to disclose any primary evidence to support a criminal charge.