About the Commission
What is a Commission of Investigation?
A Commission of Investigation is an independent body set up by the Irish Government to look closely at an issue of major public concern. It is established under the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004.
At the end of its work, the Commission sends a report to the relevant Government minister. This report generally sets out:
- The facts it has established.
- Its findings.
- Any recommendations for future action or reform.
What is the aim of the Commission?
The Commission of Investigation has been set up to examine the handling of concerns of historical child sexual abuse in schools in Ireland. It will look at abuse that took place between 1927 and 2013.
Its work involves examining how schools, and those responsible for schools, responded to concerns or allegations of sexual abuse. It will also look at how relevant State bodies handled reports of sexual abuse. The Commission will investigate failures to protect children and explore the reasons for those failures. The Commission will also conduct a Survivor Engagement Programme.
The Commission’s Terms of Reference set out what it will investigate and how it will carry out its work.
Why was the Commission established?
The Commission of Investigation was the principal recommendation of a Scoping Inquiry into Historical Sexual Abuse in Day and Boarding Schools Run by Religious Orders.
The Scoping Inquiry was established by the Minister for Education and Youth in response to revelations of allegations of historical sexual abuse in schools run by religious orders, following the broadcast of an RTÉ Documentary on One programme, Blackrock Boys.
Will the Commission deal with redress (compensation)?
No, the Commission does not have any role in providing redress or compensation. The Government is examining the issue of redress, but that is entirely separate from the work of the Commission. If you wish to investigate under current law whether you may have an entitlement to compensation through the courts, you should consult a solicitor.
What will the Commission look at?
The Commission will examine how concerns or allegations of child sexual abuse related to schools were treated by schools and by those responsible for schools. It is concerned with abuse that occurred between 1927 and 2013. Complaints or allegations may have been raised after that time period, or may never have been reported.
It will look at:
- How schools responded to concerns or allegations of child sexual abuse.
- Whether schools failed to act in ways that protected children.
- How An Garda Síochána, the Department of Education and the Health Service Executive (including the former Health Boards; Tusla – the Child and Family Agency; and related bodies) responded to concerns reported to them.
For more information, read the Terms of Reference.
Will the Commission investigate whether sexual abuse occurred in individual cases?
No. The Commission’s role is to examine how concerns, allegations and reports of child sexual abuse in schools were handled by schools and relevant State bodies.
It will not make findings about whether abuse occurred or about individual perpetrators.
Will the Commission deal with physical abuse?
No. The Commission’s work is set out in its Terms of Reference. The Commission cannot change or add to this work. It has been asked to examine the handling of concerns or allegations of child sexual abuse in schools.
Some people may have experienced physical abuse alongside sexual abuse, and this may be reflected in the accounts they share.
The Commission does not seek to diminish the impact of physical or other abuse. However, the Commission’s remit is solely to investigate sexual abuse.
Is the handling of sexual abuse carried out by a peer (another student) or peers in the Commission’s scope?
Yes. Abuse by a peer or peers is included, if it happened in a school or in connection with a school between 1927 and 2013.
Will the Commission consider the findings from other inquiries and Commissions?
Yes. The Commission’s Terms of Reference allow it to consider the findings of previous inquiries and Commissions. These reports are an important resource for the Commission. They provide information that can support its work, including the Report of the Scoping Inquiry into Historical Sexual Abuse in Day and Boarding Schools Run by Religious Orders.
How long will it take?
The Commission has been asked to submit a report on its findings to the Minister for Education and Youth within five years of starting its work.
This timeframe reflects the scale and complexity of the Investigation. The Commission aims to progress its work as efficiently as possible.
Will the Commission investigate the handling of all reports or concerns of sexual abuse?
No. Under its Terms of Reference, the Commission is required to use a sampling approach for the Investigation. This means that the Commission will select sample cases to examine in detail based on various factors, including:
- Information received through the survey.
- The availability of sufficient witness evidence.
- The availability of relevant documentary records.
Taking Part
How can I take part in the Commission’s work?
Completing the survey is the first step for everyone who wants to engage with the Commission.
All survivors who complete the survey may also choose to take part in the Survivor Engagement Programme at a later stage. This provides an opportunity to share personal experiences in a supportive setting.
Some may also be asked to engage further as part of the Commission’s Investigation, if they have indicated that they are willing to do so.
Will everyone who takes part be involved in an Investigation?
No. The Commission will use the information gathered through the survey to decide where more detailed Investigation may be conducted.
To minimise the risk of retraumatisation, the Commission will only invite survivors to take part in the Investigation where it is considered absolutely necessary and where they have indicated in the survey that they are willing to be contacted for this purpose.
If I take part in the Survivor Engagement Programme, can I take part in an Investigation?
Taking part in the Survivor Engagement Programme is separate to participation in an Investigation.
Investigations are a separate stage of the Commission’s work. The Commission may invite some people to take part where further detailed information is needed.
Can my experience of sexual abuse be included?
If you experienced sexual abuse connected to a school between 1927 and 2013, this is within the Commission’s remit.
Is my school included?
The Commission is examining day and boarding schools, including special schools, operating in Ireland between 1927 and 2013.
This includes a wide range of schools, not just those run by religious orders.
Schools means primary and post-primary schools such as primary or national schools, secondary schools, community schools and comprehensive schools.
Are industrial and reformatory schools included in the Commission’s work?
No. Industrial and reform schools are generally not included. The Commission investigates schools as defined in Section 2(1) of the Education Act 1998. This definition does not include industrial or reform schools, which were set up under different legislation. The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse examined abuse in industrial and reformatory schools, and its report was published in 2009.
What if I never reported the abuse, or only reported it later?
You can still take part. The abuse must have occurred between 1927 and 2013, but it may have been reported at any time, or not at all.
What difference will my participation make?
By taking part, you can share your experience and contribute to society’s understanding of how school-based sexual abuse was handled in Ireland. Your participation will help the Commission to report on the impact of child sexual abuse in schools as well as what can be learned for the future. We recognise that taking part may be difficult, and there is no obligation to participate.
What if the abuse happened outside the school grounds?
The Commission focuses on sexual abuse connected to schools. If your experience was linked to a school setting in any way, it is still relevant. For example, it may have happened on a school trip, or it may have happened outside school grounds but by a person whose relationship to you was through the school.
I was abused a long time ago — is that still relevant?
Yes. The Commission is examining historical abuse from 1927 to 2013. Wherever you are today, your experience matters. The time that has passed does not affect the importance of your experience.
What if I’ve already told my story to another inquiry or process?
You can still take part. This is a new statutory process. However, if you are engaged in, or considering, civil or criminal proceedings, we recommend that you seek independent legal advice before engaging with the Commission. We are unable to provide legal advice in relation to individual cases.
What if the person who abused me has been convicted already?
You can still take part. The Commission is examining the handling by schools, and State bodies responsible for and associated with schools, of concerns of child sexual abuse.
What will happen to the person who abused me?
The Commission does not make findings of criminal guilt or civil responsibility, and it does not impose penalties on individual perpetrators. Its role is to examine how allegations were handled. It does not investigate individual perpetrators.
The Survey
What is the purpose of the Survey?
The survey will help the Commission identify the potential number of survivors to understand the scale and nature of concerns of child sexual abuse in schools. It will inform the next stage of the process by indicating where sufficient evidence is likely to be available for detailed Investigation.
Survey responses will also help the Commission understand how many people wish to engage further through the Survivor Engagement Programme, or are willing to be contacted if necessary for an Investigation. They will also provide information on the specific needs or preferences for how that engagement will happen.
Will completing the survey be difficult?
We recognise that completing the survey may be difficult for some people. It has been designed to minimise the risk of re-traumatisation by:
- Asking general questions rather than requiring detailed descriptions or exact dates.
- Allowing you to pause, save your progress, and return at a later time.
- Allowing you to skip questions that are not required.
- Asking about your preferences for any follow-up contact or further participation.
Support to participate in the survey is available through the independent Participation Support Service.
As a survivor of abuse, what difference will my participation in the survey make?
Information gathered through the survey will help the Commission to determine the focus of its Investigation. It will help the Commission to understand the scale and nature of sexual abuse in schools and to plan for our further engagement with those who wish to participate in the next phase of our work.
When will the survey be conducted?
The survey will be launched in Autumn 2026. It will be announced on the website and through the media. The survey will remain open for several weeks.
Who can complete the survey?
The survey is for anyone who experienced child sexual abuse connected to a school, as well as those who may have witnessed abuse, had direct knowledge, raised concerns about it or reported it. It can also be completed by a family member when the person who experienced abuse has died, or cannot be supported to complete the survey themselves.
The survey is seeking initial information on how concerns or allegations of child sexual abuse in schools in Ireland were handled. It is concerned only with abuse that occurred between 1927 and 2013. Reports or allegations may have been raised or made at any time, or not at all.
Can I get support to complete the survey?
The Commission has put supports in place to help people complete the survey themselves if they wish, including emotional support and practical assistance for people with disabilities or additional needs.
The Participation Support Service section provides more information.
Can a family member complete the survey on someone’s behalf?
A family member may complete the survey in situations where the person who experienced abuse has died or cannot be supported to complete it themselves.
Do I have to take part?
No. Taking part is entirely your choice. If you would like some help with making this decision, you can contact the independent Participation Support Service.
What happens if I start the survey and then change my mind?
You can stop at any time without giving a reason.
Can I decide how much I want to share?
The survey is designed to allow you to share information in a way that feels manageable, and you can complete it at your own pace. Some questions are necessary to help the Commission understand the information it receives, and others are optional. You will not be asked to provide detailed information about the nature of the abuse in the survey.
You will also be able to review the full set of survey questions in advance to help you decide whether you would like to take part. You can request that through the Participation Support Service.
Do I have to complete the survey online?
No. While many people may choose to complete the survey online, this is not the only option. If you would prefer another format, alternatives are available — including a paper version or support to complete it over the phone.
You can contact the Participation Support Service to request an alternative option or format.
Can someone else help me to complete the survey?
Yes. You can get support to complete the survey if you wish. This could be from a trusted person or through the Commission’s Participation Support Service.
Do I have to give my name?
You will be asked to provide your name, but it will be kept confidential and will not appear in any reports.
All published information regarding survivors will be anonymised.
Who will have access to the information I share?
Only authorised Commission staff. It will be handled confidentially and in line with data protection law.
Our Data Privacy Notice explains how we collect, use and protect personal information in the course of our work.
Where the Commission receives personal information that raises a current child protection concern, or gives rise to reporting obligations which the Commission may have, it may be required to share that information with Tusla (the Child and Family Agency), or, with An Garda Síochána.
This sharing of information will be carried out in accordance with our legal and safeguarding obligations.
Will I be asked to provide the name of the person who abused me?
The survey does provide an option for you to name the person who abused you. You can choose whether or not to answer this question.
Where the Commission receives personal information that raises a current child protection concern, or gives rise to reporting obligations which the Commission may have it may be required to share that information with Tusla (the Child and Family Agency) or with An Garda Síochána.
If you previously entered into a confidentiality agreement, settlement agreement, or any other arrangement that restricts the disclosure of information, you should seek independent legal advice before sharing information with the Commission.
What if I am involved in civil or criminal proceedings at this time?
You are advised to seek legal advice if you are involved in ongoing legal proceedings.
Can I participate if I have previously signed a confidentiality agreement or reached a confidential settlement in relation to my experience?
If you previously entered into a confidentiality agreement, settlement agreement, or any other arrangement that restricts the disclosure of information, you should seek independent legal advice before sharing information with the Commission. A legal adviser can help you understand your rights and any obligations that may apply in your particular circumstances.
Will I be named or identified publicly if I take part?
No. You will not be named or identified publicly if you take part in the survey. The survey will be anonymised and only general summary information will be reported.
The Survivor Engagement Programme is also anonymised. No information that could identify you or another person will be made public from it.