Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 42: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made to date regarding the setting up of the general scheme of a residential institutes statutory fund Bill 2011; if any money has been forthcoming to date from the religious orders; and when a decision will be made regarding the criteria for individual applications. [25285/11]

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

The Government has approved the drafting of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill to provide for the establishment of a Statutory Fund to support the needs of victims of residential institutional abuse. The legislative proposals followed extensive consultations with representatives of survivors of residential abuse together with a public consultation process. The report on the consultation process and the General Scheme of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill are available on my Department's website. It is my intention to publish the Bill as soon as possible. While the General Scheme specifies approved services to include, counselling, psychological support services and mental health services together with such health and personal social services, educational services and housing services as the Fund may determine, the Fund will determine the extent of, and conditions attaching to, the provision of these approved services. To date €21.05m of the congregations' offers of contributions has been received and placed in a special interest bearing account in the Central Bank pending the establishment of the Statutory Fund.