Written answers

Wednesday, 24 March 2021

Department of Education and Skills

Residential Institutions Redress Scheme

Photo of David CullinaneDavid Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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819. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the commitments given to survivors of institutional abuse will be delivered on; and if payment for a procedure will issue (details supplied). [13890/21]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board (Caranua) was established in 2013 in accordance with the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 (the 2012 Act). Caranua’s purpose was to disburse the contributions of €110m (€111.38m including interest) provided by the religious congregations following the publication of the Ryan Report in 2009, by funding approved services to support the needs of former residents who as children suffered abuse in relevant institutions.

As the Statutory Fund is finite in nature, Caranua announced in May 2018 that it would cease to accept applications from 1 August 2018.   It has, since that date, mainly focused on processing applications on hand.

There was , in effect, a 19 month wind-down period before payments, in the main, ceased in December 2020.  I understand that Caranua was in touch regularly with survivors to ensure that there were timelines for all outstanding applications.

Caranua's work is effectively finished. My Department will not be taking over the functions of Caranua in relation to services for survivors. While a particular avenue of treatment may no longer be open because it cannot be funded privately,  there are public health alternatives available. The Government is committed to a single tier health system and funding private treatment for an individual is, in any event, contrary to that policy.

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