Below are questions asked in the Oireachtas, relating to Caranua and other areas relevant to survivors
Residential Institutions Statutory Fund
Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Cork to Caranua has been refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Richard Bruton): Caranua, the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board, is an independent statutory body established pursuant to the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 to oversee the use of the cash contributions of up to €110 million, pledged by the religious congregations, to support the needs of survivors of institutional child abuse. The processing of individual applications is a matter for Caranua itself and I have no role in that process.
Decisions of Caranua may be appealed to an independent Appeals Officer appointed under section 21 of the 2012 Act and I understand that in the case referred to by the Deputy the decision of Caranua was appealed. I understand also that it is the practice of the Appeals Officers to provide reasons for their decisions to individual appellants and I am advised that the decision letter that issued in this case outlined the reasons why the appeal was not upheld.
I should point out also that a person who is affected by a decision of an Appeals Officer may appeal to the High Court on a point of law.
Residential Institutions Statutory Fund
Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the refusal of Caranua to provide funeral expenses for a person (details supplied) who was a survivor of a residential institution and who has received a payment from the redress board, in view of the fact that the organisation has changed its criteria to include funeral expenses; and the statutory basis for excluding applications of this nature.
Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Richard Bruton): Caranua, the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board, is an independent statutory body established pursuant to the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 to oversee the use of the cash contributions of up to €110 million, pledged by the religious congregations, to support the needs of survivors of institutional child abuse. The determination of the criteria by reference to which Caranua may make decisions in respect of applications to it is a statutory function of the organisation itself and I have no role in that process. Furthermore, I have no role in Caranua’s day to day operations including in relation to the processing of individual applications. I should point out also that decisions of Caranua may be appealed to an independent Appeals Officer appointed under section 21 of the 2012 Act and that a person who is affected by a decision of an Appeals Officer may appeal to the High Court on a point of law.