Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 64: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason, in view of the report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, an institution (details supplied) in County Wicklow was not deemed a named institution under the redress board despite complaints that were made regarding abuse in this State-run institution; the steps he will take to ensure that those who suffered abuse in this institution are compensated by the State; the measures he will take to address this omission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23160/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that under the terms of Section 4 (1) of the Residential Institutions Redress Act, 2002, the Minister for Education & Science may, by order, provide for the insertion in the Schedule of any industrial school, reformatory school, orphanage, children's home, special school which was established for the purpose of providing education services to children with a physical or intellectual disability or a hospital providing medical or psychiatric services to people with a physical or mental disability or mental illness in which children were placed and resident and in respect of which a public body had a regulatory or inspection function.

Consequently, and having regard to the prescribed legislation, there is no provision or mechanism for me to include this particular category of home on the Schedule to the Redress Act. I should, however, point out that a person's ineligibility to be considered for an award under the terms of this scheme does not effect their statutory right to pursue other legal avenues which may be open to them.