The report of the Inter-Departmental Group (IDG) established to advise Government on the recommendations of the Scoping Inquiry on historical sexual abuse in day and boarding schools run by religious orders was published in July 2025.
In relation to the Scoping Inquiry’s recommendation that consideration be given by the Government to establishing a redress scheme for survivors, the IDG advised that a further phase of work was required to ensure that any advice to Government is fully informed, as the matters under consideration are wide ranging, complex and may have far-reaching implications.
This further phase of work includes examining the mechanisms that can be brought to bear to ensure that any future redress scheme is appropriately funded by those who were responsible for the schools where child sexual abuse took place. These mechanisms may include any administrative, legal, financial or other processes that can assist Government in its consideration of the issue of redress, and how any scheme to be considered might be funded by those responsible for schools where sexual abuse occurred.
In relation to international comparisons, the IDG will continue to examine the various approaches to redress which have been proposed or implemented in Ireland, North and South, and internationally. The features of different redress schemes, particularly in other common law jurisdictions, such as Australia, Canada, England/Wales and Scotland, are among some of the international approaches that will be assessed.
