Below are questions asked in the Oireachtas, relating to Caranua and other areas relevant to survivors

School Patronage

Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will prevent religious organisations that owe the State moneys under the residential institutions redress scheme for institutional abuse from being awarded patronage of new schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Richard Bruton): To date contributions amounting to some €220 million in cash, counselling and property transfers have been made by the 18 religious congregations who managed most of the residential institutions in which child abuse took place. These contributions are being made under two rounds: the legally binding 2002 Indemnity Agreement and the voluntary offers made in 2009 in the aftermath of the publication of the report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (the “Ryan Report”).

Some €123 million of the €128 million (or 96%) provided for under the 2002 Indemnity Agreement has been fully contributed including all cash and counselling commitments. Seven property transfers remain to be fully completed. Work to complete these transfers is actively progressing and I should point out that in most of the remaining cases the transfer process is at a very advanced stage . It should be noted also that most of the properties are already in use by the intended recipients.

The offers made in the aftermath of the publication of the Ryan Report, included cash and properties.  I should stress that these offers are voluntary and do not form part of any agreement.

It is understood that much of the education property owned by the religious congregations (note that not all of the 18 did own such property) has been transferred to trusts and accordingly the issue of granting patronage of a school of an individual congregation is unlikely to arise.

As the Deputy may be aware, once it has been established from the demographic exercises that a new school, primary or post-primary, is required to meet the demographic need in a school planning area, a separate process is conducted to establish who will run the school.

It is open to all patron bodies and prospective patrons to apply for patronage of a new school under the patronage process . Parental preferences for each patron, together with the extent of diversity currently available in the area, are key to decisions in relation to the outcome of this process.

Residential Institutions Redress Scheme Data

Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills the outstanding moneys that is owed to the State by each religious denomination as part of the residential institutions redress scheme.

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Richard Bruton): To date contributions amounting to some €220 million in cash, counselling and property transfers have been made by the 18 religious congregations who managed most of the residential institutions in which child abuse took place. These contributions are being made under two rounds: the legally binding 2002 Indemnity Agreement and the voluntary offers made in 2009 in the aftermath of the publication of the report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (the “Ryan Report”).

Some €123 million of the €128 million (or 96%) provided for under the 2002 Indemnity Agreement has been fully contributed including all cash and counselling commitments. Seven property transfers remain to be fully completed. Work to complete these transfers is actively progressing and I should point out that in most of the remaining cases the transfer process is at a very advanced stage. It should be noted also that most of the properties are already in use by the intended recipients.

The offers made in the aftermath of the publication of the Ryan Report, included cash and properties and were valued by the congregations at €352.6 million.  I should stress that these offers are voluntary and do not form part of any agreement. Post Ryan contributions from congregations and cash from property disposals amounting to some €95.9 million have been received. It is expected that the outstanding congregational cash contributions will be received by 2018. To date, five of the 18 properties accepted by the Government for transfer to the State and valued at the date of transfer at €1.38 million, have fully transferred and work is progressing to complete remaining transfers. It should be noted also that when changes in the valuation of properties previously offered and the value of properties offered but not being reckoned as a contribution are taken into account, the total value of the voluntary offers achievable will be lower than the amount of €352.6 million offered.