Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 235: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding progress in securing additional financial contributions from religious congregations towards redress for survivors of residential child abuse; the amount of additional funding that has been sought; if the congregations have responded positively in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7980/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The cost of the response to residential institutional abuse is now estimated to exceed €1.36 billion. The Government believes that this cost should be shared on a 50:50 basis, between the State and the congregations who were responsible for the management of institutions. The contribution of the 18 congregations under the 2002 Indemnity Agreement amounted to €128 million. They have since committed to contribute a further €110 million to the proposed Statutory Fund for former residents, of which €21.05m has already been received. They have also offered properties they value at a further €235.5m to different State bodies and voluntary organisations. If all of these properties were acceptable to the State and their values confirmed, the congregations' offers would fall short of the €680m contribution required to realise a 50:50 share by at least €200m.

Of the properties offered to the State, 12 have been identified as of potential immediate benefit and the transfer of these properties is being pursued. The value of these 12 properties, based on the congregations' own valuations is approximately €60m. Following consideration of the issues involved by the Government I met with representatives of the 18 congregations who were party to the 2002 Indemnity Agreement either on 22 July 2011 or on dates since then. At those meetings I expressed my disappointment that their offers fell well short of the contribution required to realise a 50:50 share. I sought their agreement to exploring a legal mechanism to transfer the title of school properties to the State and my Department is currently examining this possibility.

I will be writing to the congregations shortly to continue to pursue these issues.