Seán Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 64: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when the education board which has been established under statute to provide educational opportunities for survivors of child abuse will commence its operations; the way in which survivors will be informed regarding same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39676/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (Amendment) Act 2005 provides for the establishment of an education finance board to administer a statutory education grants scheme for former residents of institutions and their families. The board will have a fund of approximately €11 million at its disposal and this will be managed by the National Treasury Management Agency on behalf of the board.

On the 6 December 2005 I announced the membership of the board and I have arranged for details of this to be forwarded to the Deputy. I expect that the new board will hold an inaugural meeting early in the new year and I will also be setting a date for its formal establishment at this time. The present arrangements for the scheme administered by the national office for victims of abuse, NOVA, will remain in place until the new board is formally established. It will be a matter for the board to decide on the form of advertising and publicity in which it will engage to promote the new statutory scheme and to inform survivors of its operation. The main survivor support groups have been informed of the board's membership, which will include four former residents.