Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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778. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will extend the Commission of Investigation into historical sexual abuse, in all day and boarding schools to include victims of physical abuse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44796/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Commission of Investigation has been established to investigate the handling of historical child sexual abuse in schools. This was recommended by the Scoping Inquiry whose remit was to consider the issue of historical sexual abuse, as distinct from physical abuse which is a separate issue.

The Scoping Inquiry's report was published in September 2024. It reported that there were 2,395 allegations of child sexual abuse recorded by the religious orders that ran schools in Ireland, and which those orders reported to the Scoping Inquiry.

It is clear from survivors of child sexual abuse who took part in the Scoping Inquiry that they want to see the Commission of Investigation completed in a timely manner. The Commission is required to complete its work within five years, using a sampling approach, and the scope of the Commission has been set out in its terms of reference to enable it to meet this critically important objective for survivors of child sexual abuse.

It is important to note also that the Commission will investigate the handling of concerns of child sexual abuse, and will not be investigating individual allegations or cases. Its remit is solely historical child sexual abuse.