Seán Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of persons who have made compensation applications to the Residential Institutions Redress Board at the latest date for which figures are available; the way in which the number of applications compares with the original estimate made by his Department; the latest estimate of the number of likely applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14356/04]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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On the basis of the most recent information available from the Residential Institutions Redress Board, the board has received 3,540 applications. To date, the board has completed the process in 1,070 cases. The average award is approximately €80,000. The board provides regular updates as to the number of claims received on its website, www.rirb.ie. I have received the board's first annual report and I am making arrangements for it to be laid before each of the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Prior to the establishment of the redress board, my Department had estimated that there would be approximately 5,000 applicants to the board. It is too early to determine what the final outcome will be at this stage of the process. However, the redress board in its annual report anticipates receiving between 6,500 and 7,000 applications in the three year period for acceptance of applications. The board bases this on information supplied by a number of the solicitors who have presented the most applications to date. The board recognises that this estimate is tentative as there are no precedents for the redress scheme.