Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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226. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps that she is taking to ensure that all moneys pledged by religious orders to address the cost of compensation of historical abuse cases have been transferred to the State. [54100/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the 18 religious congregations involved in the management of most of the residential institutions in which child abuse took place have made contributions towards the costs incurred by the State in responding to that abuse under two rounds: the legally binding 2002 Indemnity Agreement and the voluntary offers made in 2009 in the aftermath of the publication of the report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (the “Ryan Report”).

With regard to the 2002 Indemnity Agreement, the full cash and counselling contributions of €65 million have been paid. The transfer of two properties remain to be fully completed under this round and my Department is engaging actively with the parties concerned to ensure that these transfers are concluded as soon as possible. It should be noted that both properties are already in use by the intended beneficiary.

With regard to the 2009 voluntary offers, cash contributions of approximately €111.53m have been received to date. One further cash contribution is outstanding and will arise from the disposal of a property by the Sisters of Mercy. This property had been in use to facilitate a school building project on a neighbouring site, however, my Department has been informed that the congregation is making arrangements to dispose of the site as the building project is now complete.

In addition, the Deputy may wish to note that there is one property transfer outstanding under the 2009 Voluntary Offers and my Department is engaging on a very regular basis with relevant parties in this regard. As is the case with the properties referred to above, this property is already in use by the intended beneficiary. The Congregation of Christian Brothers is also in the process of transferring its portfolio of playing fields, which it values at €127m, to the Edmund Rice Schools Trust under an arrangement whereby the State will receive 50% of the proceeds arising from the future disposal of any of those properties.