Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)

I move amendment No. 10:

In page 10, line 32, after "service" to insert the following:

", which shall be made available to the children and grandchildren of all former residents entitled to apply to obtain assistance from the Fund to advance their educational skills and employment opportunities".

This proposal was discussed for a fair amount of time on Committee Stage. It is one of the aspects that has drawn most attention in terms of submissions from some of the groups. While there may not be unanimity in that regard, there is an overwhelming desire among most of the survivors that access to the educational fund would be made available to the children and grandchildren of former residents in order for them to advance their educational skills and employment opportunities.

Everyone knows a distinction is being made with this fund, whereas the proposed provision existed previously. We must reiterate some key points. The experience of the last fund tells us that a minority of victims used it. One quarter of applicants were victims and former residents, half of those who received the grant were children and the remaining quarter were grandchildren. The key point is to deal with the transgenerational effects of abuse. The children and grandchildren of abuse victims have also paid a price. It is well established that access to education and training is the route out of poverty. It is a route for breaking the cycle. It has been a positive part of the existing fund and there is a desire for it to be maintained and carried on. I will not read out the many letters we received from people saying that education is no good to those too old to avail of it. They want their children and grandchildren looked after instead. Some of the measures put forward were to introduce an exception in the legislation to allow family members to access the fund or keep the existing trust open.

The amendment extends the provision to include family members for all of the reasons articulated. In order to have a meaningful input in terms of education, those generations will see more of it than the victims because of their age profile. It is a key service and one people should have access to. The appropriate age group is the children and grandchildren.

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