Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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828. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the enquiry into abuse in religious schools including a college (details supplied); the timeline for the completion of the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19029/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Report of the Scoping Inquiry into Historical Sexual Abuse in Day and Boarding Schools Run by Religious Orders recommended the establishment of a Commission of Investigation as its principal recommendation and this has been accepted by Government. The Report of the Scoping Inquiry made a number of further recommendations and a high level Inter-Departmental Group (IDG) was convened to examine those recommendations and to consider the terms of reference for the Commission of Investigation, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General.

The IDG, chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Education, includes high-level representation from the Department of the Taoiseach, Department of Education, Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and the Department of Justice.

The terms of reference for this Group require that it advise on both the recommendations and the terms of reference for the Commission of Investigation for the Minister's consideration, following which she will bring a Memorandum to Government with proposed next steps. It is anticipated that this will take place in the coming weeks.

The Minister is deeply conscious of the significance of the Commission of Investigation for survivors of historical sexual abuse in schools. It is critically important that the Commission is robust and equipped with the necessary powers to compel witnesses and documents, and the Department is working closely with the Office of the Attorney General in this regard.