Marie Moloney (Labour)

Nor did I indicate this; I am concerned about the amount of money available to us at present to proceed with providing the services the people need.

I also welcome the contribution being made to the new national children's hospital. However, we will not hold our breath on this. I will not take up too much time because I am aware the Minister wants to respond.

No money will ever make up for what people went through in these institutions. However, through this fund I hope extra support can be given to those who continue to struggle and are affected by the after-effects of what they went through. It is a damning indictment on all of us as a society that this abuse was allowed to happen in the first place. I hope the child protection legislation and the Garda vetting legislation will go a long way to ensure it never happens in our country again. When we look at the people today we see adults but we must never lose sight of the fact these were vulnerable little children who were put into care and the trust was broken. It is horrible. I hope the establishment of the fund will go some small way to help people on the road to a normal life, to leave behind their horrendous memories and cast aside the shackles many of them have carried through their lives. Like everyone else I offer my sincere apologies for what the children had to go through.