Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 March 2015
226. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an explanation for the inordinate delays regarding the operation of the Caranua scheme and the stress being caused to applicants by waiting periods of nine to ten months before they are contacted. [12472/15]
View answerCaranua, the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board, is an independent statutory body established pursuant to the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 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. As the Deputy will be aware Caranua commenced accepting applications on 6th January 2014, and I understand that by 31st December 2014, Caranua had made payments of some €9m to 1,062 applicants.
The management of applications is a matter solely for Caranua and I have no role in that process. I understand however that as part of the applications process there are extensive levels of communications between Caranua and applicants. Significant numbers of calls are received via its Freephone line and each applicant is assigned an Application Advisor who is responsible for guiding an applicant through the applications process, helping them to identify the full range of needs they have and providing them with any supporting information that may be needed to complete the application. The Advisors actively manage each application maintaining contact throughout the process. I am advised by Caranua that there are no applicants awaiting contact for periods as long as 9 or 10 months.
