Pat Rabbitte
Question:25 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the operation to date of the Residential Institutions Redress Board. [10207/03]
Written Answers. - Residential Institutions Redress Board.
The Residential Institutions Redress Act was signed into law by the President on 10 April 2002. The Act provided for the setting up of the Residential Institutions Redress Board. This board was formally established on 16 December 2002, and application forms have been made available from the board's offices to applicants and their legal representatives. The Residential Institutions Redress Board is entirely independent and my Department has no input or influence on its work.
Justice Seán O'Leary, a sitting Circuit Court judge, is the chairperson of the board. Other board members appointed include Professor Desmond Greer, Dr. Helen Commiskey, Dr. Ruth Pilkington and Mr. Richard O'Connell.
The Act provides that where a person makes an application for an award to the board, she or he is required to establish: (a) proof of identity; (b) that he or she was resident in an institution during his or her childhood; and (c) that he or she was injured while so resident and that injury is consistent with any abuse that is alleged to have occurred while so resident.
An independent compensation advisory committee, chaired by a senior counsel, was established in 2001 to advise on the appropriate levels of compensation for injuries related to childhood abuse. The group, which included psychologists and a psychiatrist, reported to the Minister in January 2002 and its report, entitled, Towards Redress and Recovery, has been published and is available on my Department's website.
The board has confirmed to my officials that the number of applications received to date by it is 773. It is now a matter for the board to engage in the processes laid down in the Act, including the time allowed for all parties to respond, in order to process those applications. It is understood that the board anticipates that the process will be completed in respect of some applications during the month of April and that hearings and settlement discussions will then commence. There is provision under the legislation for the board to make interim payments in certain cases and, to date, I understand from my officials that ten interim awards have been made.
Question No. 26 answered with Question No. 11.