The cost of the response to residential institutional child abuse is now estimated to be in the region of €1.47 billion. The Government remains of the view that this cost should be shared on a 50:50 basis, between the State and those who were responsible for the management of institutions where horrendous abuse took place.
Following the disappointing response from the congregations to augment their contributions under the 2002 Indemnity Agreement, following the publication of the Ryan Report, I proposed the transfer of school infrastructure to the State at no cost to the Exchequer for the benefit of the taxpayer as one mechanism to allow those involved the opportunity to shoulder their share of the costs.
I have continued to engage with the Congregations to seek a greater contribution from them and I intend to update my Cabinet colleagues in relation to the progress on the negotiations to date.