Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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186. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 103 of 28 February 2018, the nature and number of consultations in 2016 referred to in his reply; and if survivor groups were involved in these consultations. [11957/18]

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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188. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 103 of 28 February 2018, the evidence that there has been an increase in face-to-face meetings with survivors and Caranua staff or applicant advisers. [11959/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 188 together.

As the Deputy is aware, Caranua (the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund) is an independent statutory body and I as Minister have no role in relation to its day to day operations. The organisation publishes regular updates regarding its activities on its website including minutes of its Board meetings. These updates and Board minutes provide the type of information sought by the Deputy. Furthermore, Caranua is required to prepare an annual report of its activities to the Minister for Education and Skills. The most recent annual report covers 2016 and was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and published in July 2017. That report summarises the engagement that the organisation has had with stakeholders in relation to a range of matters including those referred to by the Deputy in her questions. The 2017 annual report will, on its publication, report similarly.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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187. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 103 of 28 February 2018, if he has satisfied himself that the changed criteria introduced by the board of Caranua forced some survivors into an opt-in system while others who were above a €15,000 limit were barred from opting in, effectively operating a two-applications system which was not called for in the legislation. [11958/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Caranua is an independent body established under the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012. I have no role in regard to its day to day operations nor do I have any role in relation to the determination of the criteria by reference to which Caranua may make decisions in relation to applications - that is a function specifically assigned to the Board under the legislation.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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189. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 103 of 28 February 2018, when a report of the review, which agreed terms of reference in June 2017, will be published. [11960/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The review of eligibility to apply for Caranua, which is confined to the issue of eligibility of persons who may access the fund, will be published in the coming weeks.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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190. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 103 of 28 February 2018, his views on whether the length of time taken by the board of Caranua to review the customer charter is appropriate; and when a new charter will be published. [11961/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware Caranua (the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund) is an independent statutory body and I have no role in relation to its day to day operations. I understand that Caranua has published its Customer Service Charterand its Feedback and Complaints Policyon its website (www.caranua.ie).

Caranua has identified a number of areas that it would review, these include: waiting times for first time applicants, its prioritisation policy and the usage of Nominated Person and Permission to Share Policy. I am advised that Caranua will progress these and related issues.