Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2013
377. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has given consideration to amending the Residential Institutions Redress Act, 2002, to allow for the inclusion of additional State supports, such as access to the GMS scheme for former residents of institutions covered under the terms of this redress scheme. [16043/13]
View answerThe Residential Institutions Redress Board was established pursuant to the Residential Institutions Redress Act, 2002 to provide fair and reasonable financial awards to victims of institutional childhood abuse. The original closing date for receipt of applications was 15th December 2005, however section 8 of the 2002 Act allowed the Board to extend the period for receipt of an application in exceptional circumstances. The Residential Institutions Redress Amendment Act, 2011 removed the Board's power to accept late applications received on or after the 17th September, 2011. The Board is continuing to process its remaining applications and late submissions. Accordingly I have no proposals to amend the 2002 Act.
I have recently established the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (RISF) Board pursuant to the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act, 2012. The Board will oversee the use of 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, who have received awards from the Redress Board mentioned earlier or equivalent Court awards. It is now a matter for the RISF Board to determine the range of approved services with the four classes of service stipulated in the Act, i.e. mental health services (including counselling and psychological support) health and personal social services, education services and housing services.
