Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 February 2013
267. Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide information regarding a fund to be administered by his Department to support survivors of institutional abuse (details supplied). [10122/13]
View answerThe Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 was enacted in July 2012 and provides for the establishment of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board. The Board is being established to use the cash contributions of up to €110 million pledged by the religious congregations to support the needs of some 15,000 survivors of residential institutional child abuse. This support will involve the provision of a range of approved services, including health and personal social services, education services and housing services.
Those eligible to apply for assistance from the Fund are those former residents who received awards from the Residential Institutions Redress Board or who received an award or settlement in court proceedings and who would otherwise have received an award from the Redress Board.
Arrangements to establish the Fund are being pursued. I have nominated Sylda Langford to become Chairperson of the Board and in accordance with Government procedures, Ms Langford met with the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection on February 20th to discuss the approach she will take as Chairperson and her views about the future contribution of the new organisation. I intend to appoint the remaining members to the Board shortly. The process to recruit a Chief Executive Officer (Designate) is underway and I look forward to the early appointment of a suitably qualified individual, whose responsibilities will include driving the various elements of the establishment process.
