Question: 96. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of funding regarding Caranua; the funding received by Caranua; the funding yet to be received; the number of survivors awaiting payment for services; when the Caranua fund is due to cease operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16965/19]
Written answers – Joe McHugh, Minister for Education and Skills
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 (the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund) in supporting former residents and in meeting that organisation’s operational costs and costs associated with the independent appeals process.
To date a total of €103 million, comprising contributions of some €101.6 million plus added interest of €1.382 million, has been received by my Department and placed in an investment account established by the National Treasury Management Agency. This funding is available to Caranua.
A further €8.4 million in cash contributions is required to achieve the maximum amount of contributions of €110 million set down in statute. On receipt of an outstanding contribution of €8.8 million from the Congregation of Christian Brothers over the coming months that statutory cap will have been reached.
Caranua publishes regular updates on its website regarding expenditure, applications, etc. The most recent update shows that to end February 2019, Caranua had expended some €82.5 million on supports and services for former residents and that it had 2,127 open applications on hands. Caranua ceased to accept applications from 1 August 2018 and it is working to process those remaining applications. Caranua’s operations will be wound down during the course of 2019 and the organisation will be dissolved when it has completed the performance of its functions.