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Sep 30, 2014 | Parliamentary Questions

Parliamentary Questions – 30 September 2014

Caranua > Parliamentary Questions > Parliamentary Questions – 30 September 2014

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

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Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills in relaton to Caranua if she will undertake a review of the level of the service provision in view of recent representations from survivors of institutional abuse to examine if Caranua is sufficiently staffed and resourced to deal with the level and the nature of the incoming queries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36955/14]

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): Caranua, the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board, is an independent statutory body established pursuant to the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012. It is a matter, in the first instance, for Caranua to plan for the delivery of its services and to ensure that its resources are adequately deployed so as to enable it to meet the demands being placed on it. I am aware that there has been a delay in processing applications received by Caranua, which arose due to the number of applications and calls received being higher than expected and the time taken to recruit staff. With the appointment of Caranua’s four Application Advisors in late May the organisation has reached its full staffing complement of 10 staff. In addition Caranua is utilising the services of an agency to provide additional administrative support with one person currently engaged on that basis. My Department also approved Caranua’s request to engage an agency to provide 6 temporary advisors for 12 weeks to assist it to clear the backlog of applications. My Department is continuing to engage with Caranua in relation to the resources required to enable it to deal with the level of demand being experienced.
Financial information

Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide detailed financial information on Caranua, publicly and to survivors of institutional abuse, which would detail, for example, levels of remuneration, details of the way the fund has been invested and the performance of those investments, current cash balance, and outstanding moneys that are yet to be paid into the funds and the sources of those moneys; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36956/14]

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): Caranua, the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board, is an independent statutory body established pursuant to the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012. The organisation’s annual accounts, which it is required to prepare under section 31 of the 2012 Act, will set out the position in regard to its financial affairs. I understand that Caranua’s 2013 accounts are currently being examined by the Comptroller and Auditor General. The levels of remuneration for the 10 staff employed by Caranua were set out in response to Parliamentary Question number 78 answered by my predecessor on 2nd July.

As the Deputy will be aware it is intended that cash contributions, of up to €110m, offered by the religious congregations will be available to Caranua. To date, some €78.3m, comprising contributions from congregations and associated interest has been lodged to the special investment account opened by the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) in accordance with section 29 of the Residential Institution Statutory Act, 2012. Two congregations have yet to complete their contributions and I will be continuing to press them to give clear timeframes for the completion of their contributions with a view to ensuring that Caranua has access to the full €110 million committed to it for the benefit of former residents.

Responsibility for the management and investment of the funds available to Caranua rests with the NTMA in accordance with the 2012 Act.

Criteria

Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills in relation to Caranua her plans to widen the criteria to include a quality of life provision as existed in earlier versions of the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36957/14]

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): It is a matter for the Board of Caranua to determine the range of approved services it will provide in accordance with section 8 of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012. The Act sets out the following four classes of approved services – mental health services, health and personal social services, educational services and housing support services. Section 8(3) provides that I, as Minister, may prescribe a class of service other than those listed above to be an approved service. This power can be exercised following a recommendation of the Board or following consultation with it and any such regulations require a positive motion of both Houses of the Oireachtas. While I am aware that the Board is considering making a recommendation to me in this regard, I have not as yet received a recommendation from it.

The criteria by which Caranua will determine decisions in relation to applications made to it, are a matter for determination by the Board in accordance with section 9 of the 2012 Act.