Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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260. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount remaining in the Caranua fund; his views on whether the closure of the fund to applicants from 1 August 2018 is appropriate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30699/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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On 29th May of this year, I published the Review of Eligibility of Persons to access the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (“Caranua”).  The Review shows clearly that the monies available to Caranua will be fully spent for the group of former residents whom the fund was originally targeted.  It is clear also that the fund is not going to be undersubscribed and should therefore continue to be used for the benefit of those former residents. 

Following the publication of the Review Caranua announced that it would cease to accept applications with effect from 1 August next. Caranua is a statutory body which is independent in its decisions on the management and disbursement of the funding which was provided by the religious congregations.  Caranua has publicised this cessation date and I would encourage anyone who has yet to submit an application to do so before 1 August. I have asked Caranua to continue to accept applications in cases of hardship or in exceptional circumstances, after the date on which general applications will cease to be accepted.  I have also called on Caranua to make every possible effort to engage with survivors and their representatives.

Caranua have already placed advertisements in a number of national and foreign newspapers highlighting the cessation date, have engaged with survivor support groups, as well as other organisations that may work with people who may be eligible to apply for support funding.

Statistics on Caranua's expenditure are available from their website at www.caranua.ie.