Vol. 562 No. 1
329 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has satisfied himself with the basis on which the compensation settlement with religious congregations operating institutions was made, particularly in respect of the estimation of the likely cost of the settlement to the State; and if there is scope for renegotiation of this deal in the event that the costs of compensation prove considerably greater than were initially thought. [5333/03]
In October 2000 the Government, in recognition of abuse that happened in residential institutions which were under State supervision, decided to establish a scheme through which victims of childhood abuse while in institutional or residential care could apply for compensation for their injuries. Following the Government's decision, the religious congregations that had been involved in the management and operation of the institutions indicated that they wished to make a meaningful contribution to the scheme. Negotiations between the religious congregations and the State followed and arising from this the indemnity agreement referred to by the Deputy was signed on 5 June 2002.
There is no provision for renegotiation in the indemnity agreement between the State and the religious congregations. Regardless of the participation of the religious congregations, the Government considered that the setting up of a compensation scheme was the right thing to do for victims of institutional childhood abuse. The participation of the religious congregations in the scheme was however a policy goal of the Government in that their participation in the scheme provides an opportunity to bring closure to the issue of past abuse and also provides a sounder basis for healing for victims. It was on the basis that it offered the best opportunity to meet the needs of survivors of abuse that the Government entered into the agreement with the religious congregations.
