Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 243: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when he proposes to erect a memorial to the survivors of institutional child abuse as recommended in the Ryan report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45167/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Government's Implementation Plan in response to the Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, which was published on 28th July 2009, set out the Government's commitment to erect a memorial to victims of abuse in institutions in line with the recommendations of the Commission's Report.

I announced the membership of the committee that will oversee the erection of the memorial on 18th October. The committee is being chaired by Séan Benton, former Chairman of the Office of Public Works, with Bernadette Fahy and Paddy Doyle as former residents of institutions. The other members of the committee are Seán Ó Laoire of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland; Monica Corcoran of the Arts Council; and Billy Houlihan, formerly Cork County Architect. A budget of €500,000 is being set aside for the project which will be managed by the Office of Public Works. My Department is providing secretarial services for the committee.

The committee's terms of reference are to:consider the views of the survivor groups in relation to the location and nature of the memorial to be erected; make recommendations on the location and nature of the memorial in a manner that best takes account of the views of the groups representing the survivors of abuse, and to consider arrangements for a national day of remembrance and solidarity; oversee the commissioning and delivery by the OPW (through competition) of the design and building of the memorial.

The Committee has commenced its work and will be consulting widely in this regard.