Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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296. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the operation of a group (details supplied) to help the survivors of industrial schools; the amount of State funds that have been given to this group; the audits or checks have been carried out on its activities, and the steps that are open to survivors who are not satisfied with the operation of this group. [37342/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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My Department has provided funding to a number of groups, including Right of Place, to provide an information and referral service, since 2001. Up to the end of 2012, the overall cost in relation to this organisation is €1.198m, which includes the cost of the associated co-ordinator.

The funding is channelled through the City of Cork VEC and expenditure of these funds has been monitored by a co-ordinator engaged by the VEC on behalf of the Department until May 2013. My Department continues to monitor the expenditure of this organisation and receipts are provided along with the annual accounts of the organisation.

In addition to my Department's funding, this organisation also receives funding from the Health Service Executive. As advocated by the Comptroller and Auditor General in his Special Report No. 74 of September 2010, my Department liaises with the HSE to ensure a coordinated approach to its funding and that no duplication of funding arises.

In the wider context, I previously announced that as responsibility for information for survivors will be taken on by the Statutory Fund, funding of Survivor Groups by my Department will cease. As a consequence, all Survivor Group funding will cease with effect from 31st December 2013.