John Deasy
Question:8 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Education and Science the way in which he envisages the ?12.7 million entrusted for education under the deal between his Department and CORI will be used. [10216/03]
Other Questions. - Educational Programmes.
Under the terms of the indemnity agreement between the State and the religious congregations, €12.7 million has been identified to be used for educational programmes for former residents of institutions and their families. It is my intention that a grant scheme for former residents, which will be administered through the National Office for Victims of Abuse, NOVA, will be in operation for the next academic year in September 2003.
It is essential that the scheme addresses a broad range of educational programmes from basic adult literacy up to masters degree level. An ad hoc committee was set up in January 2003 to develop a Framework Document and an application process. The committee is comprised of representatives from the vocational education sector, the further education section of my Department, NOVA and representatives of the survivors' groups. The deliberations of the committee should ensure that the application process will take full account of the educational requirements of survivors and that any scheme that is put in place will avail of the educational structures already in place in the country. There will be a provision in the scheme for a review of its operation after one year so that it can be tailored to ensure it is adequately addressing the education needs of survivors.
The committee has met on four occasions since January and the draft documents are at an advanced stage. When the draft documents are completed, they will be circulated to the broader interest groups for their observations before publication.
I welcome the Minister's answer and I am glad that the scheme is covering all levels of education from adult literacy upwards. The answer was comprehensive. What will be the criteria for assessing applicants? Obviously, a large number of people will come through under the scheme. On what basis will they be entitled to grants, financial or otherwise?
The scheme will be open to anybody who was in a residential institution, so it will not be means tested. It is open to the people involved to make individual applications for all levels of education, from basic education upwards.