Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 899: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to a letter dated 1 June 1995 from a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8 requesting that her Department send certain papers to the Garda; the reason the papers were not provided to the Garda until December 1996; the further reason there was no reply to the letter at the time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36091/07]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I am not in a position to comment on the exact sequence of events relating to the letter referred to by the Deputy. However, I can confirm once again that a substantial body of correspondence was received from the person concerned, outlining a range of concerns and allegations regarding Finglas Child and Adolescent Centre and related matters.

On receipt of correspondence from that person in 1996, the matter was referred from my Department to the Gardaí for investigation. In addition to this investigation, the Gardaí, in conjunction with the Eastern Health Board, my Department and management of Finglas Child and Adolescent Centre conducted a look-back investigation into allegations of abuse at the Centre. Arising from this investigation, files were sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions regarding allegations of abuse at the Centre. My Department provided every possible assistance to the Gardaí and made available all relevant records in this regard.

I would also like to confirm that relevant documentation held by my Department in relation to the sexual, physical and emotional abuse or neglect of children in industrial and reformatory schools was forwarded to the Commission to Enquire into Child Abuse in compliance with a Discovery Order from the Commission in June, 2003.

The Deputy should note that, arising from the transfer with effect from 1 March last of responsibility for the children's detention schools to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, all papers relating to the administration of the schools, including all correspondence from the person referred to by the Deputy, have been transferred to that Department.