Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 June 2013
153. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 has been denied access to the fund for survivors of institutional abuse in order to pay for their child's education despite having had access to this for older children. [29306/13]
View answerThe Education Finance Board (EFB) was financed by the €12.7 million contribution provided by the religious congregations under the 2002 Indemnity Agreement specifically earmarked for educational support for former residents and their families. In November 2011 the EFB indicated that it expected that the funds available to it would be fully allocated on applications already received and accordingly it publicised that it would not be in a position to process any applications received after 30th November, 2011. The EFB was dissolved with effect from 29th March 2013 and its remaining functions were taken over by the new Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board (RISF).
The RISF has been established to oversee the use of the cash contributions of up to €110 million, pledged by the religious congregations, to support the needs of survivors of institutional child abuse, across a range of services, including mental health services, health and personal social services, education and housing services. Eligibility to receive support from the Fund is restricted to those 15,000 former residents who have received awards from the Residential Institutions Redress Board or equivalent Court awards.
Relatives of survivors of abuse are not eligible to receive support from the RISF. Having regard to the maximum funds available and the potential pool of applicants, I believe that this is the correct approach. However I have agreed that the question of reviewing the eligibility under the RISF could be considered following two years of the operation of the Fund in the event of applications not resulting in a significant expenditure of the Fund.
The Board held its inaugural meeting on 27th March and has commenced work on the arrangements to be put in place for the operation of the Fund. Further publicity will be undertaken as the work of the Board progresses and a website with detailed information on the Fund's services will be developed.
Due to confidentiality restrictions I am not in a position to comment on any individual application to the EFB. I have however arranged to have the Deputy's query regarding the specific individual forwarded to the RISF Board requesting that it respond directly to him in relation thereto.
