Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 53: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the use being made of properties which have been transferred to the State under the indemnity deal with religious institutions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19908/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Under the terms of the Indemnity Agreement reached with the religious congregations, the property contribution of the congregations is divided into two separate and distinct schedules of properties as follows:

(A) Properties to be transferred from the congregations to the State, State Agencies or Local Authorities after the date of the signing of the Indemnity Agreement on 5th June 2002: The total value of these property transfers for the purposes of the Indemnity Agreement was set at €36.54 million. I can confirm that agreement in principle has been reached with the religious congregations on the transfer of 35 properties under this schedule to the amount of €38.24 million. This figure of €38.24 million includes €4.98 million in cash that was provided by the congregations in lieu of property.

(B) Properties transferring from the congregations to the State, State Agencies, Local Authorities or Voluntary Organisations from the 11th May 1999, the date of the Taoiseach's apology to victims of child abuse: The total value of these property transfers for the purposes of the Indemnity Agreement was set at €40.32 million. I can confirm that transfers of 29 properties to the value of approximately €38.71 million have been agreed in principle under this schedule. This includes a cash payment of €5.75 million made by the congregations in lieu of property.

The properties on lists "A" and "B" below were accepted in principle by the Department following receipt of confirmation from relevant Government Departments and State Agencies that it would be to their advantage to accept title to the particular property. The current or future use of these properties is a matter for each of the transferees. In relation to properties accepted in principle by my Department these will be used to develop school provision.