Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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43. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will direct Caranua to expand the range of services covered by the fund in view of the publication of Caranua's annual report for 2015 and the report of the appeals officer. [34881/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Subsection 8(1) of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 sets out the classes of services from which Caranua can determine the approved services to be provided. Those classes of services comprise:

- mental health, counselling and psychological support services

- health and personal social services;

- educational services; and

- housing support services.

Following its establishment, Caranua determined the approved services to be provided by it and determined the criteria by reference to which it would make decisions on applications made to it.  Caranua has recently expanded the approved services it provides and amended its criteria. The additional approved services now include support towards the cost of household goods such as cookers, fridges, floors and home decoration as a housing support and the provision of a contribution towards funeral costs and a contribution to the cost of reconnecting with family members and home place as health services.

While subsection 8(3) of the Act provides that Caranua can recommend to the Minister that an additional class or service be prescribed and the Minster can consult with the Board on the inclusion of additional classes of services, I am satisfied that the current arrangements provide an appropriate and flexible framework to enable Caranua to meet the emerging needs of former residents. Accordingly the issue of invoking the power provided in section 8(3) does not arise at this point.