Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Caranua was established to manage €110 million pledged by religious congregations to support survivors for the remainder of their lives. It has emerged in recent days that there are a few discrepancies in how this money has been spent, with funding allocated to provide services to survivors having been spent on rent of a premises by Caranua. It is my understanding that the Committee of Public Accounts received a letter stating that Caranua had paid €50,000 to the OPW in the past year towards rent for office space and that it owes a further €56,000 in that regard. Despite this, there have been claims that Caranua has spent nothing in the past year on rent for office space. This has created some confusion. I understand from reports that the CEO wrote to the Committee of Public Accounts on Monday of this week asking that the record of the Committee of Public Accounts meeting of 13 April last be corrected. The CEO stated in that letter that she had stated Caranua had rent-free accommodation from 2013 to May of this year. She noted this should have been stated as May of last year and was a mistake in her delivery of the information. Members will make of that what they will but the Committee of Public Accounts was presented with false information.

The CEO has clarified the conflicting remarks and has confirmed that Caranua has paid €50,000 to date and arrears of €56,000 are outstanding to the OPW. We need clarity on this issue. Will the Minister provide clarity on what was and was not paid from 2013 onwards, as this is central to the wider debate on why rent payments are made from the fund allocated to supporting survivors? Does the Minister believe that he and his Department have been sufficiently robust in the oversight of the organisation or have they been asleep at the wheel? Why is Caranua paying rent to the OPW? It is wrong that the Departments are unable to work out a deal given the enormous estate they own in terms of properties. The fund is specifically for survivors. It is important to point out that Caranua is no ordinary public body. Many public bodies provide essential services that are funded from resources provided to them by the State. The fund about which we are speaking is intended for survivors and the manner in which it is being spent is wrong.

I note the amendment presented by the Minister contains a commitment to carry out a review of the eligibility criteria. We need a timeline in that regard and clarity on whether further survivors are to be included. I share many of the reservations and concerns expressed. I have heard many stories from constituents on their frustration at the service they have received from Caranua, the arbitrary cap being a significant issue. In common with the mother and baby home inquiry, there is a lack of opportunity for people to have their voices heard by Caranua. It is wrong that survivors are being forced to deal with paper-only bureaucracy and that they do not have the opportunity to discuss their cases and needs.

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