Written answers

Tuesday, 2 May 2017

Department of Education and Skills

Residential Institutions Redress Scheme Data

Photo of Ruth CoppingerRuth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

341. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of money outstanding for the redress schemes from an organisation (details supplied); and if he will report on any recent discussion with it to retrieve all funds pledged. [19769/17]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The religious congregation referred to in the Deputy’s question was one of 18 that was a party with the State to the 2002 Indemnity Agreement. That Agreement provided for a collective contribution of €128 million in cash, counselling and property.

I understand that the transfer of one property offered by this Congregation, the Sacred Heart Centre, Waterford, remains to be fully transferred. The completion of this transfer is at an advanced stage with the intended recipient, the Health Service Executive, in occupation of the property.

In response to the call for further substantial contributions towards the costs of redress made in the aftermath of the publication of the report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (the Ryan Report), many of the congregations that were party to the 2002 Indemnity Agreement made individual offers of cash and/or property. I should stress that these offers are voluntary and do not form part of any agreement. The Congregation in question offered an additional cash contribution of €5m, of which amount €2m has been paid. In 2012 the Congregation advised that it had decided to waive its claim for legal costs from the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (CICA) and to offset this claim against the remaining cash contribution of €3m. The then Government agreed to reckon this set-off as a contribution towards the redress response, the amount of which will be calculated by applying the average discount achieved by CICA on its respondent legal costs.  This exercise will be done once CICA has completed its work. The Congregation was advised that in the event that the amount of the set-off calculated on that basis is less than the €3m now outstanding the Government would expect it to make up the shortfall by way of a cash payment. 

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.