Below are questions asked by TDs in Dáil Éireann, relating to Caranua

Access to Fund for children of survivors

Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills in relation to the Caranua fund, her plans to widen the criteria to include the children of the survivors of residential abuse in order that they can gain some of the assistance, in view of the fact that they are also suffering and their needs are often a huge source of stress for victims; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): The Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 provides that those former residents who received awards from the Residential Institutions Redress Board or equivalent Court awards or settlements are eligible to apply to Caranua. This approach was taken having regard to the maximum funds available of €110 million and a potential pool of some 15,000 applicants.

As the Deputy may be aware, a commitment was given during the passage of the 2012 Act to review the operation of the Fund two years after its establishment in the event of applications not resulting in a significant expenditure of the Fund. Following its establishment in March 2013, Caranua began to accept applications in January 2014. Accordingly it would be my intention to consider the question of a review of the operation of the Fund later this year by which time a clearer picture should have emerged regarding the uptake of the funding available.

Eligibility to Caranua

Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a survivor of institutional abuse (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): Caranua, the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board, is an independent statutory body established pursuant to the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 to oversee the use of the cash contributions of up to €110 million, pledged by the religious congregations, to support the needs of survivors of institutional child abuse. The processing of individual applications is a matter for Caranua itself and I have no role in that process. Eligibility to receive support from Caranua is restricted to those 15,000 former residents who have received awards from the Residential Institutions Redress Board or equivalent Court awards. The 2012 Act does not provide for the eligibility of relatives of survivors of abuse to receive support from Caranua. This approach was taken having regard to the maximum funds available and the potential pool of applicants.

As the Deputy may be aware, a commitment was given during the passage of the 2012 Act to review the operation of the Fund two years after its establishment in the event of applications not resulting in a significant expenditure of the Fund. Following its establishment in March 2013, Caranua began to accept applications in January 2014. Accordingly it would be my intention to consider the question of a review of the operation of the Fund later this year by which time a clearer picture should have emerged regarding the uptake of the funding available.