To date, more than 390 men have made allegations of abuse against the now disgraced doctor, who has served a prison sentence for sexually abusing boys in his care.

Ministers agreed to establish a “timebound scoping exercise” after health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill met on Monday with advocacy group Dignity4Patients.

Victim representative Cianan Murray and Phoenix Law solicitor Diarmuid Brecknell attended the meeting, where they were told the scoping exercise would take 16 weeks.

In a statement, the Department of Health said: “The draft terms of reference for a scoping exercise will be finalised following engagement with Dignity4Patients and other relevant government departments.

“The Department of Health will consult closely with the Office of the Attorney General on progressing this exercise following this decision of government.

“The independent person will report to government with their recommendations for an appropriate and bespoke response to the issues raised and the needs identified by Dignity4Patients on behalf of the victims and survivors of Michael Shine.”