Dara Murphy (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 208: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on plans for a memorial to victims of child sex abuse here as proposed under the Ryan Report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28973/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The provision of a memorial to victims of abuse while in institutional care was one of the recommendations of the Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, which were unanimously accepted and supported by Dáil Éireann. A memorial committee, chaired by Mr Seán Benton, was appointed to oversee the commissioning of the memorial with a budget of up €0.5m being set aside therefor.

Following a consultation process with survivor groups and interested parties the Committee launched the competition in July 2011. The first stage of the competition process invited expressions of interest outlining the concepts/approach by the applicants of the nature, medium and format through which the memorial is to be delivered. Thirty two expressions of interest were examined by the jury for the competition, from which six competitors were shortlisted to proceed to Stage 2 of the competition. Those shortlisted were required to submit their detailed and specific proposals for each stage of the design, planning and realisation of the memorial with detailed costings and mechanisms for realisation. The jury met with the shortlisted competitors on Monday, 11 June 2012 and I expect to receive their recommendations shortly.