Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 213: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the Residential Institutions Redress Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23822/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The correspondence, inter alia, calls for the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012 to be voted down and suggests that not one survivor will benefit directly from the Fund only service providers. As the Deputy will be aware, this Bill has been drafted following the unanimous agreement of an all-party motion passed in Dáil Éireann in the aftermath of the 2009 Ryan Report publication. The Bill is intended to establish a Statutory Fund for the benefit of survivors in line with the spirit of the motion agreed by the Dáil.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Second Stage Debate on the Bill commenced last week. The Fund will be operated by a Board, whose membership will include four former residents. The Bill provides that on application to it, the Board can make an arrangement with a person, whether or not the person is resident in the State, for the provision of an approved service to support the needs of an eligible former resident and can pay a grant to such former resident, to assist them to avail of an approved service.

The classes of services from which the Board can determine the approved services to be provided comprise: mental health, counselling and psychological support services; health and personal social services; educational services; and housing support services, including adaptation or improvement of real property but not including financial aid for the purchase, mortgage or charge of real property.

In determining criteria, the Board will take account of the individual circumstances of eligible former residents and it will assess the likely effects of the provision of the service on the health and general well-being, personal and social development, educational development, or the living conditions of former residents.

I do not accept the suggestion that the Fund will only benefit service providers, clearly the services provided must be targeted to the specific needs of the individual applicant to the Board.