Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions

Deputy Maurice Quinlivan: asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the survivor consultation talks; when these talks will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Richard Bruton T.D. Minister for Education and Skills: Following a meeting with survivors, I expressed a willingness to have a series of consultation meetings around the country, led by and for survivors of institutional abuse. The detail of how this can happen is being worked out and Department officials are in contact with survivors.

Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Budgets

Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount set aside on an annual basis for contingent liability for the past 25 years to date; the way in which it is determined the amount that is forecast to be needed for contingent liability; if an actuary analysis is carried out for budgeting current and future contingent liability; if a risk assessment is conducted in the context of contingent liability; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Richard Bruton T.D. Minister for Education and Skills: The following table lists the amount disclosed in my Department’s Appropriation Accounts for contingent liabilities for the past 25 years as requested by the Deputy. Two categories of contingent liability have been disclosed in the accounts: those related to the Residential Institutions Redress Scheme and those related to the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse.

The estimated liability in each year in relation to the Residential Institutions Redress Scheme was based on the average award and legal cost paid by the Redress Board and the estimated number of remaining Redress Board applications to be processed.

The estimated contingent liability in respect of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse was based primarily on the anticipated settlement of outstanding legal costs associated with the Commission’s work.

As the work of both of these bodies draws to a conclusion the respective contingent liability estimate for each has considerably reduced in recent years.

Department of Finance: State Claims Agency Data

Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Finance the number of claims pending against the State Claims Agency relating to historical child sexual abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Paschal Donohoe T.D. Minister for Finance: The State Claims Agency (SCA) is part of the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA), which is a body under the aegis of the Minister for Finance. The SCA have supplied the information included in this report, and confirmed that it is correct as of 14th May 2018.

This report shows the number of active claims managed by the State Claims Agency in relation to historical child sexual abuse claims as recorded on the National Incident Management System (NIMS). This is hosted by the SCA for the Health Service Executive (HSE), other Healthcare enterprises and State Authorities.

Historical child sexual abuse claims are assumed to be claims with a date of Incident recorded on NIMS as 2000 or earlier.

With regard to the number of active claims against the SCA relating to historical child sexual abuse, please see Table 1.

Table 1: Active historical child sexual abuse claims

National Incident Management System (NIMS): Incidents (which include claims) are reported using the “National Incident Management System”. This is hosted by the State Claims Agency (SCA) for the HSE, other Healthcare enterprises and State Authorities. An incident can be a harmful Incident (Adverse Event), no harm incident, near miss, dangerous occurrence (reportable circumstance) or complaint.

Claim : A claim refers to notification of intention to seek compensation for personal injury and/or property damage where it is alleged the State was negligent. The application may be in the form of a letter of claim, an InjuriesBoard.ie application, or a written/oral request.