The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse is facing questions about its capability after a basic adding mistake has led the commission to admit that 128,000 fewer children attended industrial schools in Ireland between 1930 and 1970, than what it previously claimed..
The commission had originally said 170,000 kids attended these institutions in the 40-year period.
But it now says the figure is closer to 42,000.
In a statement last night , the commission says the mistake was caused by adding the annual school populations together, but not taking into account the fact that many students attended for several years in a row.