The Government has agreed to a set of proposals which provides for the making of a contribution of €128 million by religious congregations to the scheme of compensation for people who suffered abuse while in institutional care. The terms of the agreement include: a cash payment of €38 million, of which €12.7 million will be placed in an education trust for former residents of the institutions and their families; property transfers totalling €80 million – this amount will include property transfers which have been, or are being, made since the Taoiseach, on behalf of the State, made an apology in May 1999 to victims of institutional child abuse, with further transfers up to the total amount taking place within the next three to five years; €10 million in counselling, record retrieval and pastoral services for people in need; and the religious congregations have stated that they will also continue their co-operation with State and voluntary bodies in relation to property transfers for services to people in need.
The agreement with the congregations is at present an outline agreement in principle. Officials of my Department, the Department of Finance and the Office of the Attorney General will, in the immediate future, engage in further discussion with representatives of the congregations concerned to finalise all issues. These include details of all property transferred or to be transferred and the valuation of that property. In agreeing on valuation, the services of the State's valuers, the Valuation Office, will be called on and allowance will be made for any investment the State has made which enhances the value of the property concerned. As to the legal basis for transfers these will be concluded with the assistance of the Chief State Solicitor's Office and will ensure that full title for all properties is transferred to the State.
