News & Events

Parliamentary Questions – 21 July 2016

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

Statistics on Caranua applications

Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of former residents who have made applications to Caranua; the number of applications which have been received by Caranua; the number of determinations made by Caranua on applications; the number of former residents who have received assistance from Caranua; the average time between the making of an application and its determination; the average total grant paid per former resident; the average total grant paid per application; and the average total grant paid under each of the following classes, health and personal social services, education services, housing support services; and the level of administrative expenditure including salaries and expenses.

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Richard Bruton): As I have explained to the Deputy in response to previous Parliamentary Questions, Caranua is an independent statutory body established pursuant to the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 to support the needs of survivors of residential institutional child abuse. Administrative and operational issues such as those raised in the Deputy’s question are day to day matters that are the responsibility of Caranua itself and I have no role in those matters.

I have arranged to have the Deputy’s question forwarded to Caranua with a view to having a response provided to her directly as soon as possible.

Direct reply as below

 

Deputy Clare Daly TD

Leinster House

Dublin 2

25th August 2016

 

RE: PQ Reference Numbers 23567/16

 

Dear Deputy Daly,

Further to PQ number 23567/16, please find enclosed the response from Caranua. As the PQ contained a number of individual questions, I have broken them down individually.

If you have any further questions, or would like more information on Caranua, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely,

Siobhán Kane

Head of Communications and Engagement

01-8745996

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of former residents who have made applications to Caranua; the number of applications which have been received by Caranua; the number of determinations made by Caranua on applications; the number of former residents who have received assistance from Caranua; the average length of time between the making of an application and its determination; the average total grant paid per former resident; the average total grant paid per application; and the average total grant paid under each of the following classes, health and personal social services, education services, housing support services; and the level of administrative expenditure including salaries and expenses.

·         To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of former residents who have made applications to Caranua; the number of applications which have been received by Caranua;

As at the end of June 2016, Caranua received 5,371 Part 1 applications. 5,152 of these were eligible. When an applicant is deemed eligible to apply to Caranua we request identification documents. As at end June 4736 applicants returned their identification documents, and were subsequently sent the Part 2 application pack, which they can then return to us outlining what services they need. 4,252 applicants had returned their Part 2 forms at the end of June.

·         the number of determinations made by Caranua on applications;

27,529 applications for services were approved as at end June 2016, and 588 (2% of the total received) applications were not approved. It is important to note that an individual applicant may make several applications for different services according to their needs.

·         the number of former residents who have received assistance from Caranua;

3,545 applicants have received payments for services as at end June 2016. This accounts for 83% of applicants who have returned their Part 2 form.

·         the average length of time between the making of an application and its determination;

When an applicant submits their Part 1 form they are responded to within ten working days to state if they are eligible, or if further information is needed. When they submit identification documents, they area again responded to within ten working days. Once a Part 2 application form is returned, the next step in this process is that they are assigned an Application Advisor. In recent months the time period for this stage has been approximately six months. However, is it envisioned that by the end of this year that period will be reduced to three months.

·         the average total grant paid per former resident; the average total grant paid per application;

The average value of services received per applicant is €14,100. The average value per application is €1,818.

·         and the average total grant paid under each of the following classes, health and personal social services, education services, housing support services;

The average payment per application under the categories is as follows:

o    Health – €945

o    Housing – €2,826

o    Education – €1,023

·         and the level of administrative expenditure including salaries and expenses.
Total administrative expenditure including salaries and expenses was €997,156 as at end of December 2014, which includes expenditure in 2013. Accounts for 2013 and 2014 have been audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General.