Patsy McGarry, a long-time Religious Affairs journalist with the Irish Times, said he is "shocked" at the scale of abuse allegations emerging from schools across Ireland.
The journalist, who has dealt with this issue for over 27 years, said that even with his extensive experience, the figures unveiled were beyond anything he had anticipated.
The revelations include nearly 2,400 allegations of abuse involving 834 perpetrators, with half of these alleged abusers still alive.
The accusations span 304 schools, including those run by religious congregations such as the Jesuits and Dominicans, as well as community and Protestant schools.
Speaking on Kildare Today, McGarry said the scale of the inquiry is enormous, potentially making it the largest statutory investigation of its kind in Ireland.
During a recent press conference, Minister for Education Norma Foley confirmed that the Commission of Investigation would encompass all schools, regardless of who managed them.
This broad remit means that around 700 schools across the country could be subject to scrutiny.
The Kildare schools mentioned include:
Naas CBS (Primary) in Kildare faces 10 allegations involving four alleged abusers.
Athy CBS (Primary) has been linked to three allegations with three alleged abusers.
Naas CBS (Secondary) has had one allegation reported against a single alleged abuser.
De La Salle NS in Kildare has also coming under scrutiny following an allegation involving one alleged abuser.
The most significant number of allegations has emerged from Dominican College in Newbridge
The Dominican College in Newbridge (Post-Primary) faces 30 allegations, with nine individuals accused of involvement in the abuse.
Clongowes Wood College has also come under scrutiny.
The Jesuits face 19 allegations involving 12 alleged abusers.
While specific numbers are not available, the Patrician Brothers School in Newbridge (Secondary) is under investigation.
Similarly, St. Raphael's School in Celbridge, Kildare, run by the Saint John of God Hospitaller Ministries, is also the subject of an ongoing investigation.
While historical allegations of abuse have been linked to Catholic institutions, this latest inquiry also brings Protestant schools into the spotlight, indicating that abuse was not confined to one sector.
McGarry drew parallels with the Ryan Commission, which in 2009 reported on the abuse of children in orphanages, industrial schools, and reformatories.
He suggested that the new inquiry might similarly focus on a representative sample of schools, given the vast number of institutions involved.
One of the significant challenges highlighted by the journalist is that many of the alleged perpetrators are deceased, raising concerns about whether full justice can be served.
He said despite the complexity, survivors have been clear about their desire for those responsible to be held accountable and for appropriate compensation to be provided.
However, securing financial redress from the institutions involved remains a complex issue.
In the Ryan Commission's aftermath, where religious congregations were asked to contribute to a €1.5 billion redress fund.
The congregations fell short of their commitments by €200 million, and similar challenges are expected with the current inquiry.
As more allegations continue to emerge, the journalist anticipated that the inquiry could take many years to complete.
Survivors are encouraged to come forward, with support available through the Gardaí and organisations like One in Four, which has been aiding abuse survivors for over 25 years.