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

Accounts

Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the accounts of Caranua for 2014 and 2015 will be published. 

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Richard Bruton): Caranua’s accounts are audited by the C&AG’s office and their accounts are published when the C&AG’s work is finalised.

Meet Right to Peace

Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will meet the Right to Peace group. 

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Richard Bruton): Right to Peace recently contacted me raising a number of concerns about the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund. I have, as you know, agreed that there should be a review of eligibility for services provided by Caranua and as part of that review there will be opportunities for survivor groups and individuals to make their views known to me. I look forward to hearing from all interested parties.

Statistics on Caranua applications

Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of survivors of institutional abuse who have received assistance from Caranua. 

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Richard Bruton): Statistics on the number of survivors who have received assistance from Caranua are in the public domain and are published on their website at www.caranua.ie

When Caranua will complete its work

Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills when it is envisaged that Caranua will complete its work.

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Richard Bruton): There are a number of factors that will determine when Caranua will complete their work. These factors include the rate at which the fund is being utilised; the number of new applications coming in on a monthly basis and the number of applications that are currently on-hand.

Contributions remaining from religious orders

Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funds that are still awaited from religious orders in respect of Caranua. 

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Richard Bruton): Contributions from congregations are deposited in the special investment account opened by the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) in accordance with section 29 of the 2012 Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act. Some €96.1m comprising contributions and associated interest have been lodged to this account to date. It is expected that the bulk of the €110m in congregational contributions earmarked for Caranua will be received by 2018.