Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 March 2015
227. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria used in respect of determining hardship in the context of the Caranua handbook, in view of the fact that this is an area which applicants believe is being too harshly monitored and that these criteria could be employed to provide necessary relief for those who are continuing to suffer as a result of abuse they experienced. [12473/15]
View answerSection 9 of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 provides that the Board's criteria for making decisions on applications, can include criteria consistent with the Act for the purpose of the relief of hardship where it is shown to the satisfaction of the Board that exceptional circumstances exist such that the standard criteria can be disregarded. It is a matter for the Board of Caranua to determine its criteria for making decisions in accordance with the Act and I have no role in that process.
I understand that the Caranua information booklet 'Applying for Services: information and guidelines for making an application' states that "in cases of extreme hardship and other exceptional circumstances" the criteria for applying for services may be set aside. Caranua has advised that in light of the fact that this area deals with exceptional circumstances it is not appropriate to put in place strict criteria to define these since it would remove the element of discretion that this provision is designed to provide for.
I would also point out that any former resident can appeal a decision made by Caranua on their application to the independent appeals officer appointed pursuant to section 21 of the 2012 Act.
