Below are questions asked in the Oireachtas, relating to Caranua and other areas relevant to survivors

Services available to survivors of institutional abuse through the Caranua

Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills the services available to survivors of institutional abuse through the Caranua agency; the way the fund is administered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. 

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Richard Bruton): Caranua is an independent statutory body established under 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 legislation provides that supports may be available in the areas of health and personal social services, mental health services, education and housing. It is a matter for Caranua itself to determine the range of approved services it will support and the criteria by reference to which decisions may be made in respect of applications. Further information regarding Caranua’s services, its application process, corporate governance arrangements, together with relevant publications, etc., may be found on the organisation’s website www.caranua.ie.

The Deputy will wish to be aware that up to the end of December 2016 Caranua had received over 5,600 applications and had spent over €56 million on supports to or on behalf of almost 4,200 applicants.