News & Events

Parliamentary Questions – 28 January 2016

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

Eligibility
Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person who did not directly receive money through the redress scheme but subsequently won a case against a solicitor for not filling out the application on time can apply to Caranua; and if she will make a statement on the matter. 
Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): The Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 provides that those former residents who received awards from the Residential Institutions Redress Board or equivalent Court awards or settlements are eligible to apply to Caranua. This approach was taken having regard to the maximum funds available of €110 million and a potential pool of some 15,000 applicants.Decisions regarding individual applications, including decisions regarding the eligibility of applicants, are a matter for Caranua and neither I nor my Department have any role in the process. Accordingly, I would suggest that this person contacts Caranua to clarify exactly what their eligibility status is.Former residents who are not eligible for assistance from Caranua may be entitled to avail of services provided by other statutory bodies. Survivors can, for example, avail of the National Counselling Service operated by the Health Service Executive which offers counselling and psychotherapy services to those who have experienced trauma and abuse in childhood with priority given to survivors of institutional abuse.