Press Statement

The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth received a Report from the Commission of Investigation (Certain matters relative to a disability service in the South East and related matters) (“the Farrelly Commission”) on Monday, 29 July 2024. The Report is the final substantive report on the first phase of the Commission’s investigation, as required by the Terms of Reference.

The Commission’s substantive work on Phase I is now complete. The Commission will now focus on the finalising of costs payable to witnesses who appeared before it.

The Commission has also provided a statement concerning Part X of the Terms of Reference of the Commission of Investigation.

The Report and statement relating to Part X will now be referred to the Office of the Attorney General for legal advice.

Ends

Notes for Editors:

• SI No 96 of 2017 Commission of Investigation (Certain matters relative to a disability service in the South East and related matters) (“the Farrelly Commission”) was signed by Taoiseach Enda Kenny on 21 March 2017. The Commission was established under the Commissions of Investigation Act, 2004 (No. 23 of 2004).

• The Commission was established to investigate the care and protection of “Grace” (pseudonym) and others in a former foster home in the Southeast, which has been the subject of abuse allegations.

• The Farrelly Commission is a statutory Commission of Investigation and is independent in undertaking its functions under the legislation and its Terms of Reference.

• The Chair and Sole Member of the Commission is Marjorie Farrelly, S.C.

• The Commission commenced its investigation on 15 May 2017. Under the Commission’s Terms of Reference (approved by the Government in March 2017) a final report on the Commission’s phase 1 work was due to be submitted to the Minister for Health within one year of the Commission commencing its work. The Commission has received a number of time extensions to enable it to carry out this work in accordance with its Terms of Reference.

• The Commission’s Interim Reports and Substantive Interim Reports are available on the publications section of the Department of Health’s website.

• The Commission of Investigation’s terms of Reference are available on the Department of Health’s website Item was unpublished or removed.

• The functions vested in the Minister for Health with respect to the Commission transferred under S.I. No. 688/2022 - Specialist Community-Based Disability Services (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2022 to the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth effective from 1st March 2023.