Many of us have been members of Scouting Ireland during the years and there is no doubt that the leaders and volunteers in that organisation do fantastic work in communities across the country. However, the revelations dating from last January of complaints of sexual assault made by a woman in 2009, when she was 18 years old, have opened up a new insidious and grotesque litany of sexual abuse cases over many decades in the scouting movement. The abuse occurred mostly when children were on trips. Scouting Ireland's handling of the initial allegation was, in the words of Mr. Ian Elliott, one of the experts in this area, deeply flawed. The initial allegation has been followed by a full review of historical cases which found that there were 71 alleged abusers and 108 victims between the 1960s and 1980s alone and that there were also incidents in more recent times. We must remember not to focus on the numbers but rather on the fact that each one represents a person or a family who has been affected. Mr. Elliott confirmed all of this to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Zappone, and the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Children and Youth Affairs yesterday. He also said the work was incomplete and that the numbers were likely to rise. Everyone in this House agrees that this is reprehensible and the sooner we can get the full facts the better. One in Four, a group with expertise in this area, has described the figures as astonishing.

A huge number of people are affected. They were much younger when they suffered the abuse and may not have come forward with their story and are holding on to what happened to them. They have held on to it for many years. Mr. Elliot outlined how 14 of the alleged perpetrators had multiple victims. He discovered that there was one serious perpetrator, of whom Scouting Ireland had no knowledge and on whom there was no file. There have been many enforced changes to Scouting Ireland since the initial inquiry. We hope the initial Government arrangements are robust enough to ensure any further allegation of abuse will be reported under the current legislation and that those who make reports under it will be given the support they need. Families and the children involved want this to happen to allow them to have security and their voices to be heard in this debate. It will also help them to come forward.

Given the seriousness of this issue, is the Minister satisfied with the process involved, how the allegations were examined and that known victims have access to full counselling services and any other support they require? What processes is the Government putting in place to allow people to come forward who might not otherwise come forward and are they being allowed to do so on a confidential basis? Has the Minister, Deputy Zappone, met him to ensure An Garda Síochána will be involved at every level to assist and support victims? Will the Government give consideration to the establishment of a specific helpline to allow people to come forward in confidence and provide the security and help they need?

I thank the Deputy for raising this most important matter, notwithstanding the fact that it was the subject of a discussion at a Oireachtas joint committee as recently as yesterday. Like all Members of the House, I am appalled by the allegations of historical abuse that have emerged at Scouting Ireland. As my colleague, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Zappone, said, Scouting Ireland informed her office late on Tuesday that, as part of a review being carried out by Mr. Ian Elliott, evidence had been found of 71 alleged abusers and 108 alleged victims to date. Scouting Ireland has advised that most of the cases relate to the period between the 1960s and the 1980s. It has advised that some of the alleged victims and abusers became known to it separate from the examination of historical files. Several victims have come forward recently, as the Deputy acknowledged. The Minister has further been advised that none of the alleged abusers is still working with Scouting Ireland. It has been confirmed that reports have been made to Tusla, An Garda Síochána and other police forces in jurisdictions in which many of the alleged abusers are in residence. I acknowledge that in recent times the Minister reinstated funding for Scouting Ireland for a period of six months, until April next year. Like her, other Ministers and I are extremely concerned about the very high number of alleged cases of abuse. In that regard, the Minister is seeking additional information from Scouting Ireland. Funding has been restored on an interim basis only and the matter remains under examination.

Every support will be made available to the victims to ensure they can and will come forward and that they will be assisted in that pursuit. The appropriate authorities will engage in the necessary investigative work.

I welcome the assurance given that none of the alleged abusers is still working with Scouting Ireland. That is important. Is the Minister confident that Scouting Ireland has the capability and the resources to manage the situation? It is really important that we receive the information and the facts as soon as possible. The drip-drip of information has to stop in order that we can build confidence within scouting and the agencies involved in it in order that those who have not come forward will be able to tell their story and access justice. It is important that we look at the establishment of a helpline. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Zappone, said she was seeking to meet the board of Scouting Ireland. Has that meeting been arranged and, if so, when will it be held? Will the Minister confirm that Tusla will become involved and provide the backup support necessary to ensure the most important people in this - the victims - will be allowed to tell their story and access a path to justice without an inordinate delay?

The Government and all appropriate State agencies will make every effort to ensure this issue will be fully investigated and that all victims can come forward in a timely and appropriate manner. I acknowledge the new board of Scouting Ireland and the review of the governance of that body which was carried out in May. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Zappone, appointed Ms Jillian van Turnhout as an independent expert to examine the governance structures in Scouting Ireland and related issues. Ms van Turnhout submitted her final report on 14 June. The board confirmed its decision to implement fully all of the recommendations made related to governance.

It was on that basis that the Minister, Deputy Zappone, sanctioned funding for an interim period of three months until the end of September, at the end of which the then board voted to reinstate the chief scout as chairperson. This was done, notwithstanding the fact that the chief scout was a respondent in an ongoing independent barrister's investigation. This, of course, was unacceptable to the Government. I welcome the appointment of the new board. We must ensure every effort is made to bring this matter to a satisfactory conclusion for the victims involved and that there is due process in the context of any investigation, including Garda investigations. My Department will assist other Departments and State agencies, as appropriate.