Johnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein)
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332. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will address the matter regarding ensuring access to the ex gratia scheme and the publication of the action plan regarding these issues which survivors have been seeking since the ECHR judgement on 28 January 2014; when the report will be published; when exactly the survivors will be able to access the remedy and relief programme with specific reference to future protection of Irish school-going children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42994/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The ex gratia scheme, was established on foot of the specific circumstances arising from the O’Keeffe case and in response to the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). It was established in 2015 to provide an effective remedy for a specific category of people, namely those persons who had commenced domestic litigation but who had discontinued those proceedings following the High Court and Supreme Court judgments in Ms O’Keeffe’s case and who were unable to re-commence their litigation in the domestic courts.The ex gratia scheme is currently being reviewed.The review has yet to be concluded.

As part of the implementation of the ECHR judgement, the State has to file action plans with the Council of Europe.The State has, to date, filed 12 action plans, the latest one on 8th December.All of the action plans are published on my Department's website.

It is a core obligation to children that there is a rigorous child protection programme in place.The most recent development is the introduction of Child Protection and Safeguarding Inspections (CPSIs) by my Department's inspectorate. These inspections focus on school compliance with key aspects of the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools that were published in 2017.All inspections are published on my Department's website