Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 77: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons who applied to the redress board for compensation from 2002 to date; the number whose applications were successful; the total sum paid out; the average amount paid to each applicant; the outstanding number of applicants to be dealt with; the number of institutions and applicants associated with each of the different churches; when it is expected to complete the redress scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16857/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The closing date for receipt of applications by the Residential Institutions Redress Board was 15 December 2005. However, the Board, can at its discretion, extend the period for receipt of an application where it considers there are exceptional circumstances.

At the end of May 2011, the Board had received 15,135 applications, of which 14,592 had been finalised, resulting in 13,669 awards and 923 applications being withdrawn, refused or resulting in a nil or no award. The Board had 543 applications to finalise and a further 567 requests for late applications to consider.

The total expenditure approved by the Board was €1.008 billion, including some €847 million in respect of awards and some €161 million in associated medical/legal costs. The overall average award is €62,875.

A total of 139 institutions were included in the schedule of specified institutions to the Residential Institutions Redress Act, 2002 to 2005. Religious ethos was not a criterion for inclusion in the Schedule. While the majority of these institutions were managed by the 18 religious congregations who were party to the 2002 Indemnity Agreement, others were managed by State bodies, voluntary bodies/management committees or pursuant to Trusts. My Department does not have the application details sought by the Deputy. Indeed, section 28(6) of the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002 prohibits the publication of any information regarding an application made under the Act that refers to any other person, relevant person or institution by name or which could reasonably lead to such identification.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 78: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of moneys paid by the catholic religious orders to the State as their contribution to the redress scheme 2002; the amount of property transferred by the religious orders to the State; if the Protestant authorities have made any financial contribution to the State in the context of the redress scheme; the amount of moneys that the State has contributed to the redress scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16858/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The following table sets out the position in relation to the realisation of the €128 million contribution due from the eighteen Congregations under the 2002 Indemnity Agreement. The completion of the legal arrangements in the case of 24 properties, valued at €23.34 million, remain outstanding, although the physical transfers of these properties have taken place. The Chief State Solicitor's Office continues to pursue the legal requirements issue under the Indemnity Agreement. In addition, a potential shortfall of €160,000 has been projected between the value of properties to be transferred and the total amounts due under the Agreement. However, this is subject to change if good and marketable title cannot be realised on certain properties and the final shortfall or surplus will not be known until all properties are completed under the terms of the Indemnity Agreement.

The final cost of the response to residential institutional abuse is estimated to reach €1.36 billion, with the bulk of these cost estimates, some €1.1 billion, relating to the Redress Scheme. At the end of 2010, the overall expenditure on the Redress Scheme and associated litigation was €1.05 billion. These costs are met by the State, apart from €42.26m, which is accounted for by the cash contribution from the religious congregations and associated interest. Following the publication of the Ryan Report, the congregations were called upon to commit to making further substantial contributions by way of reparation. In response 16 of the 18 congregations made offers of additional contributions including cash and properties, which they have valued at €348.51m. In April 2010, the then Government announced its intention to utilise the cash element of €110m of the congregations' offers of contributions, to establish a Statutory Fund to support the needs of survivors of residential institutional child abuse. To date €20.6m has been received and placed in a special interest bearing account in the Central Bank pending the establishment of the Statutory Fund. The remaining congregations are awaiting confirmation that the legislation will provide for the charitable status of their contributions to the Fund or sight of the proposed terms and structure of the Fund, prior to making their initial contributions. The offers of contributions envisaged that the cash contributions would be made over a period of years. My Department has pursued the potential use of the various property offers made to date and their acceptability to the State and has engaged with the Congregations in relation to their potential to augment their offers, so as to realise a 50:50 sharing of the costs involved. As has been recognised, even if all of the properties offered were to be acceptable to the State and their values confirmed there would be a shortfall of over €200 million below the 50:50 target set.

Against this background the transfer of the congregations' school infrastructure, at no extra cost to the State, as proposed in the Programme for Government, could help achieve the 50:50 target. The schools transferred will continue to be used by the religious congregations and or their successor trusts with the same patronage arrangements as prevail today. The difference would be that the Irish taxpayer, through the State, would be the owners of that educational infrastructure. My Department has also approached the management bodies of other institutions included within the Redress Scheme in relation to a contribution towards the costs involved.

Contributions by Religious Congregations Under the 2002 Indemnity Agreement

1 This includes the €160,000 potential shortfall projected between the value of the properties to be transferred and the total amounts due under the Agreement.