Below are questions asked by TDs in Dáil Éireann, relating to Caranua and other areas relevant to survivors

Contributions of congregations under Redress agreement

Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the details of cash sums and properties, with their values, transferred to the State by the religious orders under the institutions redress scheme, in tabular form; the amount outstanding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. 

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): In response to the call for further substantial contributions towards the costs of redress made in the aftermath of the publication of the report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (the Ryan Report), many of the congregations that were party to the 2002 Indemnity Agreement made voluntary offers which they valued at €348.51m, including cash, property and other elements. Subsequent offers and the value of a particular property offer amounted to €4.1m, bringing the total contribution offers to €352.61m. As the Deputy will be aware, the Government agreed to use €110m, the cash contributions, to fund the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (Caranua).

To date, some €82.9m, comprising post Ryan Report contributions from congregations, associated interest and cash from property disposals has been lodged to the special investment account opened by the National Treasury Management Agency pursuant to the Residential Institution Statutory Act, 2012. I understand that outstanding cash contributions are expected to be received from congregations between now and 2018. The figure of €82.9m referred to above includes contributions of €81.5m as follows:

Work is underway on the transfer of those properties offered by the congregations in the aftermath of the publication of the Ryan Report which were accepted in principle.

Contributions of congregations under 2002 indemnity agreement

Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the details of cash sums and properties, with their values, transferred to the State by the religious orders under the 2002 indemnity agreement, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. 

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan):Under the 2002 Indemnity Agreement, the 18 participating religious congregations are contributing €128m in cash, counselling services and property. The cash contributions of €54.42m under the Indemnity Agreement have been received. These contributions include collective contributions from the congregations. Of the €54.42m cash, €12.7m was earmarked for former residents and their relatives in the form of grants to assist them access educational services. This money was expended via the now dissolved Education Finance Board while the remaining €41.72m and the associated interest, i.e. a sum of €42.259m, has been expended on the Redress Scheme. 
Under the Agreement my Department agreed in principle with CORI that a total of 64 properties would be accepted subject to good and marketable title and agreed valuations. This number has reduced to 61 as the Department has accepted and received a cash sum in lieu of three properties where good and marketable title could not be established.

46 Properties have been fully transferred and there are no outstanding issues. A list of these properties is set out in the following table.

Work is continuing to finalise the arrangements in relation to the remaining properties.

Properties which have been fully transferred under the 2002 Indemnity Agreement

Review of Caranua

Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress she has made regarding the long-promised review of Caranua, with particular reference to the possibility of children of victims of institutional abuse being able to access the fund. 

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan):  As I have previously explained to the Deputy, a commitment was given during the passage of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 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. The terms of reference for the review will be drafted in the near future but it is unlikely that the possibility of children of victims of institutional abuse being able to access the fund will be included.