Written answers

Thursday, 1 December 2005

Department of Education and Science

Residential Institutions Redress Scheme

5:00 pm

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 216: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the case of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37386/05]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002 provides a statutory scheme of financial redress for persons who, as children, were abused while in residential institutional care. The scheme applies in respect of institutions specified in the Schedule to the Act. Section 4 of the Act provides that the Minister for Education and Science may, by order, provide for the insertion in the Schedule of additional institutions in which children were placed and resident and in respect of which a public body had a regulatory or inspection function.

Since the enactment of the legislation, my Department has been contacted by individuals and-or solicitors regarding various institutions not specified in the Schedule. Following consideration of the matter and consultation with relevant public bodies, I signed an order on 9 November 2004 which provided for the inclusion of 13 additional institutions in the Schedule. A further order was made on 1 July 2005 adding three institutions to the Schedule.

The only facility under the aegis of my Department at the address of the centre to which the Deputy refers is a special school. Any residential centre for that school would not have been under the remit of my Department. I am not aware of an individual case regarding abuse as mentioned by the Deputy.

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