Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 February 2012
6Deputy Willie O’Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which he proposes to publish the legislation in respect of the establishment of the Statutory Trust Fund; the proposed timescale he has for the establishment of this fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10217/12]
View answerWork on the drafting of the residential institutions statutory fund Bill is at an advanced stage. I hope to be in a position to publish the Bill in the coming weeks. While it is not possible at this point to set out a specific timescale for the establishment of the fund, I can confirm that it is my intention to proceed to establish it as quickly as possible following enactment of the Bill.
I urge the Minister, bearing in mind the pressures on the offices of the Parliamentary Counsel and the Attorney General, to ensure the legislation is put in place as soon as possible. I have previously raised with him in parliamentary questions and at the committee the expressed concerns of the representative groups with which he met in July 2011 to discuss the remit of the statutory fund to ensure assistance would continue to be provided for the families and descendants of some of those who endured awful treatment in institutions. I also raised this issue with him in the context of our processing of the residential institutions statutory fund Bill. I am sure these concerns have also been outlined to him and other Oireachtas Members. A number of the groups with which I spoke recently are concerned that the framework as envisaged will not adequately cater for the needs of particular individuals, particularly the children and grandchildren who have been availing of assistance through the education system. The groups are concerned that this assistance will not be forthcoming under the new statutory fund. It is hoped the Minister or his officials will engage with the groups which remain concerned about the extent of the assistance that will be available to the people concerned following enactment of the legislation. We all appreciate the terrible suffering and trauma endured by so many of them.
The general scheme which is being drafted provides for the services to be provided to include counselling, psychological support services and mental health services, together with such health and personal social services, educational and housing services as the fund may determine. That is the wording that has been submitted to the Parliamentary Counsel. I know that many of the victims-survivors have requested the provision of educational opportunities for their children and grandchildren, which is a worthwhile use of the money available. However, some of the survivors are of the view that the balance of the money should be distributed in cash to those who have already received money, which is not a view that I support.
It is hoped the Minister or his officials will, prior to the legislation being brought before the House, have an opportunity to iron out the remaining concerns of the representative groups, that we will all be in a position to support the legislation when it is brought before the House and that it will achieve what everyone wants it to achieve.
That is my intention. The Deputy has met representatives of the groups involved and will be aware there is no unanimity on what should happen. However, I will do my best. While I am open to having a wide-ranging debate on the legislation on Committee Stage, there is no clear consensus among the survivors.
Have there been developments on the fund? The Minister mentioned he would like to see an increase in the amount made available. While many survivors are part of groups, others are not. What happened to the people concerned was an abuse of power. They now believe that we, in the decisions we are making that will affect their lives, are once again taking power from them. The Minister has spoken about the money aspect of the issue, but what is important is that the people concerned be allowed to make the decisions which will affect their lives. I would like to see the money being used to provide educational and other supports. However, those involved want the responsibility for decision making to be transferred to them.
The Government's intention is that €110 million will be available through the fund, being the cash portion of the offers made by the religious congregations in the aftermath of the publication of the Ryan report. However, to date, only €21.05 million of the cash contributions has been received and placed in a special interest bearing account in the Central Bank pending establishment of the statutory fund. I refer the Deputy to my reply to Deputy Smith that the money must be used wisely.
