Residential Institutions Redress Scheme Eligibility

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 April 2015

Tuesday, 21 April 2015

Questions (601)

Clare Daly

Question:

601. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the adequacy of responsibility for management of applications to Caranua being solely a matter for Caranua, a process in which her Department has no role, meaning that persons who have suffered outrageously, due to State failures of oversight in the past, must now advocate on their own behalf with yet another State agency, Caranua, without support from any agency outside of the one they may be experiencing delays or refusals from; her plans to address this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15699/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Caranua is an independent statutory body established under the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012. The chief executive is accountable to the Board for the efficient and effective management of Caranua. While I have no statutory role in relation to Caranua's applications procedures, my officials and I are in regular contact with the Chair and the chief executive to discuss matters relating to the performance of the organisation. As the Deputy may be aware, the Board has commissioned an external review of its structures, processes and systems.

Caranua has recently published its Customer Service Charter in February which sets out target processing times for the various stages of its application process. Caranua is amenable to scrutiny by the Oireachtas, including its committees. Caranua's administrative actions are subject to review by the Ombudsman and its decisions can be appealed to the independent appeals officer appointed under the 2012 Act.