Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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86. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the discussions he has had with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in relation to opening the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund to the survivors of a home (details supplied). [8839/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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Under section 3 of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012, eligibility for assistance from the Fund is confined to those former residents who received awards from the Residential Institutions Redress Board or similar awards or settlements in court proceedings and who would otherwise have received an award from the Redress Board.

A review of eligibility was carried out in 2018 and was intended to quantify any likely underspend and, in the event of an underspend, to look at the implications of extending the eligibility criteria to include survivors of other institutions.

The analysis concluded that it was clear that the fund is not going to be undersubscribed and that it should continue to be used for the benefit of those survivors who meet the criteria originally devised. 

Because the Fund will continue to be used as originally devised, I haven't had any discussions with my colleague, Minister Zappone on extending it to survivors of the institution mentioned by the Deputy.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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87. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund; the amount of funds it holds; and the operating costs of same. [8840/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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In accordance with the provisions of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012, cash contributions offered voluntarily by religious congregations in the aftermath of the publication of the report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (the "Ryan Report") are available to meet costs, incurred by Caranua in supporting former residents and in meeting the operational costs of Caranua and any costs associated with the independent appeals process.

To end 2018 a total of €103 million, comprising contributions of €101.63 million plus added interest of €1.382 million, has been received by my Department and made available to Caranua.

A contribution of €8.8 million remains outstanding from the Congregation of Christian Brothers and is expected to be received later this year. On receipt of that contribution the €110 million statutory cap will have been reached and any amount of the contribution in excess of that cap will go towards the National Children's Hospital. 

Caranua publishes regular updates on its website regarding expenditure. The most recent update shows that to end December 2018, Caranua had expended some €80.6 million on supports and services for former residents.  I understand that it has expended a further €9.9m on administration costs in the same period while costs associated with the independent appeals process have, to date, amounted to €95,600. At the end of 2018, some €13 million was available to Caranua, excluding cash contributions offered but not yet received.