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

Survivors in the UK

Deputy Dominic Hannigan   asked the Minister for Education and Skills   if his attention has been drawn to the fact that agencies in the UK that are helping survivors of the Irish industrial school system have not yet been recognised by Caranua; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Caranua is appointing case workers who are based in Ireland to survivors who are based in the UK; when an agency (details supplied) will be approved by Caranua; and if he will make a statement on the matter.  [25303/14]

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn):   Caranua is an independent statutory body under the aegis of my Department. Caranua’s application advisors (previously known as caseworkers) are based in Caranua’s office in Dublin and work with applicants regardless of where the applicant is living. I understand from inquiries made by my officials that Caranua has not entered into a formal contract with any survivor organisations, either in Ireland or in the UK. However, it has worked hard at developing relationships with survivor organisations in both jurisdictions since its inception, and has ongoing contact and meetings with survivor organisations. I also understand that the possibility of a contractual relationship with an organisation in the UK to improve responsiveness to applicants living in the UK was recently considered by the Board of Caranua and that work on exploring this possibility is ongoing.

With regard to the counselling agency referred to by the Deputy, Caranua recently published updated versions of its information and guidelines for making an application, and in these guidelines Caranua outlines that “counselling will normally be provided by the National Counselling Service, Connect and Towards Healing”. However, I am advised that applicants are not in any way limited to using the mentioned services, and this is only provided as a guide. The revised guidelines are available on the Board’s website www.caranua.ie.Caranua works with survivors based on their individual needs and service providers are approved on a case by case basis during the processing of individual applications.