Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein)

This amendment is to expand the provision in the Bill for the awarding of compensation and support. It would provide for a one off lump sum payment that would allow survivors the opportunity to spend their moneys in whatever way they see fit. Consideration could be given to providing a credit system that allows compensation to be paid directly to the children of survivors.

Serious concerns have been raised relating to accessing services. This process has been fraught with difficulties and in the past it has been overly-bureaucratic and stressful for applicants. Many of the services on offer are already available and access to education would have limited benefits, as some Senators remarked earlier. Senator Norris referred to concerns about the limited benefit of education to some survivors of a certain age profile. This is the rationale behind the amendment.