Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

The trust fund that was to be established for the survivors of the institutions was to be €110 million, I understand. That has not yet been established and in reply to a parliamentary question from Deputy Ruairí Quinn yesterday, the Tánaiste informed him that about €20 million had been contributed towards that fund to date. Will the Taoiseach say when it is likely the remainder will be contributed?

On the wider issue of the structured dialogue between the State and the churches, in respect of the requirement on teachers to teach religion, has any consideration been given to a recent case where a teacher was awarded compensation for losing the offer of a permanent post after she was unable to offer the Catholic certificate to the effect that she could teach religion? It was compulsory in the teacher education colleges formerly that students should do religious education and qualify for this certificate. I understand, however, the colleges have now made that optional and while an alternative course may be done, it does not result in the certificate to teach religion. Given the largely denominational make-up particularly of primary schools, is this an issue the Government intends to discuss with the churches since not all students in the teacher education colleges are now taking religion as a subject, quite apart from the decision of the Equality Authority to award compensation to a teacher who failed to get a job because she did not have the certificate?

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