Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)

I welcome the Bill and I thank the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, for his hard work in ensuring the Bill was brought before the House as quickly as possible. The Government obviously recognises the significance and importance of the issue and it has been determined to move to establish this fund as a priority. The previous Government should be commended on its work with the establishment of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse in 2000. Like everybody, I was appalled and shocked with the findings of the Ryan report published in 2009 and with the other reports into this matter. It is absolutely shocking that widespread child abuse took place in residential institutions, which should have been safe places for children, especially given that these events did not occur too long ago.

Nothing will take away from the distress and damage caused to the residents of these institutions when they were children. However, I am encouraged by the many steps the Government has taken to address the issue and to ensure the rights of children are protected in future. The referendum on children's rights will take place later in the year. Committee Stage of the Criminal Justice (Withholding of Information on Offences Against Children and Vulnerable Persons) Bill 2012 took place in the Seanad on Tuesday. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs, headed by the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, was established last year with the sole purpose of dealing with policy issues that affect children showing that the Government is fully dedicated to address this situation. The Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, recently published the heads of the children first Bill, which is an important first step. Children are certainly in the focus of the Government.

Some 15,000 people will be eligible for support from the statutory fund to be established by the Bill. Obviously it is vital that the application process is as simple and quick as possible so that survivors do not have to endure any more pain or experience delays in getting support. The fund will support services, including mental health services such as counselling and psychological support, educational services, housing services and personal social services as opposed to providing funds directly to former residents. The fund will be administered by nine board members, four of whom will be survivors of residential institutions, which has been welcomed by the former residents. Having shared the same appalling experiences they will be able to give invaluable input into how the fund will operate.

More than €21 million has already been received from religious congregations for the fund, with €110 million needed to fully support the services for the 15,000 eligible people. Eligibility to apply to the fund will be confined to those who have received an award under the Residential Institutions Redress Board or those who would otherwise have received an award but received a court settlement. It is clear the Government does not wish to bankrupt any religious congregations, but it is important that each congregation contributes to the fund to help the survivors of abuse to have access to proper support services.

It is tragic that sufferers were not listened to in the past and that many, who were abused, had to hide the truth from their family members. It is also tragic that abuse was commonplace in many religious residential institutions and was allowed to continue for many years without anybody intervening to prevent it. It is important that the costs are equally divided because the State also has a case to answer. I welcome the establishment of the fund which will provide essential support services for the survivors.

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