Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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114. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason the publication of the Farrelly Commission report was so delayed; the measures she is now taking to expedite the publication of reports concerning the welfare of children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20897/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Commission of Investigation (Certain matters relative to a disability service in the South East and related matters) (“the Farrelly Commission”) is an independent statutory Commission of Investigation, empowered to investigate matters of significant public concern.

The Commission was established on 21 March 2017. Under the Commission’s Terms of Reference, the duration of the Commission (phases 1 and 2) was understood to being no more than 2 years from the date of commencement of its work.

The Commission possesses robust investigative powers and by design and by law, it exercises its functions and powers independently of Government, the Minister or the Department.

The Commission provided eight interim reports of its work processes and progress of its work plan to the Department of Health (between 2017 and Feb 2023). In January and March of 2021, the Commission submitted two substantive interim reports on its investigations to the Department of Health (published on 1 October 2021).

The Commission provided the third and final substantive report of Phase 1 to my Department in July 2024. The final substantive report covers six volumes and runs to approximately 2,000 pages. (This is considered a third interim report published under Phase 1, as the final report of the Commission will deal with costs.) The Commission also provided a Statement on Part X of the Terms of Reference.

Both the final substantive report and the Statement on Part X of the Terms of Reference were referred to the Office of the Attorney General for legal advices and to ensure there was no impediment to the full publication of the report.

The intervening period following the dissolution of the Dáil on 8 November 2024, the subsequent election on 29 November 2024 and the formation of a new Government with Ministers appointed in late January 2025 and the subsequent adjournment of the Dáil until 5 February 2025 had an impact on the timing of decision-making on an appropriate response to the statement on part X received The Minister is not aware of any other delays in reports relating to the welfare of children.