As explained in our earlier two blogs, the Irish Government has committed to establish a Commission of Investigation into sexual abuse in schools. The Scoping Inquiry which recommended that investigation, also recommended that the Irish Government gives early consideration to establish a redress scheme for survivors of historical sexual abuse in day and boarding schools run by religious orders.

The Inter Departmental Group, set up to consider the recommendations of the Scoping Inquiry, issued a report which was published at the same time as the Terms of Reference. In this, it is noted that the Group identified significant and complex issues arising from Recommendation 2 above and that further information and analysis is required in order to advise the Government on the issue of redress. Available data indicates that, overall, of the 5.7 million who enrolled in Junior Infants in the State from 1927-2013, some 3.4 million individuals are still alive.  The Scoping Inquiry’s report references figures from the CSO indicating the potential scale of school-related historical sexual abuse in Ireland at some 41,300 adults aged 35 and over, based on the CSO’s 2022 Sexual Violence Survey, but notes that there is likely to be scope for under-reporting in the survey. The Inter Departmental Group said that in the absence of concrete data regarding the potential scale of historical sexual abuse in day and boarding schools in Ireland it is not possible to advise what the Government’s response should be to Recommendation 2 at this time.