Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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347. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of applications that were received by survivors of industrial and reformatory schools for redress under Caranua; the number of these that were successful; the number that were unsuccessful; and the number of applicants who have not received a response to date. [12952/22]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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348. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of funding that remains out of the funding allocated to Caranua for redress for victims of industrial and reformatory schools. [12953/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 347 and 348 together.

Caranua was established in 2013 with a specific purpose, which was provided for in the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 – to disburse the contributions 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 is specified in the 2012 Act, the amount of €110m, plus interest of €1.38m, was made available to Caranua, and held in a Statutory Fund managed by the NTMA.

It was not the role of Caranua to provide redress. To be eligible to apply to Caranua for funding supports, applicants had to have been in receipt of an award of redress from the Residential Institutions Redress Scheme, or to have qualified for such an award had they not already received similar awards or settlements in court proceedings.

Given the finite nature of the funding available, Caranua announced in May 2018 that it would cease to accept applications from 1 August 2018. After that date, it focussed on processing

applications on hand. It also undertook targeted outreach to certain groups, including survivors who were in prison. As part of this process, Caranua engaged extensively with applicants who had not completed the application process, and established timelines for the provision of supporting documentation which would enable their applications to be progressed before Caranua was required to wind-down its operations.

All outstanding applications were finalised by Caranua by March 2021. Overall, Caranua received over 62,000 applications for funding supports from 6,181 eligible survivors, of which 92% were approved. Over 57,000 payments were made to survivors.

The very limited funding remaining at this point will be required to discharge legal costs, audit costs and other outgoings.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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349. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the work of the Inter-Departmental Committee to address the needs of survivors of industrial and reformatory schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12954/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, a number of reports have highlighted the ongoing needs of survivors and the lifelong difficulties they may experience due to their childhood experiences in residential care. A survivor-led consultative forum was also established and has provided a very good insight into the areas where supports may be provided into the future.

This work is currently being considered by my Department with input from colleagues from other Departments. Significant resources are being devoted to progressing this which will feed into my consideration of proposals to Government in this context.