Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 May 2022
521. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Education the outstanding amount due by religious institutions in the residential institutional redress board scheme; the amount that is due by each of the religious institutions in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23313/22]
View answerThe 18 religious congregations involved in the management of most of the residential institutions in which child abuse took place have made contributions towards the costs incurred by the State in responding to that abuse under two rounds: the legally binding 2002 Indemnity Agreement and the voluntary offers made in 2009 in the aftermath of the publication of the report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (the “Ryan Report”).
Some €125 million of the €128 million provided for under the 2002 Indemnity Agreement has been contributed, with the transfer of the following two properties remaining to be fully completed –
|
Congregation |
Number of Properties |
Valuation (€) |
|
Sisters of Mercy |
1 |
2,667,000 |
|
Religious Sisters of Charity |
1 |
190,500 |
|
Total |
2 |
2,857,500 |
The voluntary offers made in the aftermath of the publication of the Ryan Report in 2009 included cash, properties and contributions in kind. Cash contributions of approximately €111.5m have been received to date and one further cash contribution is expected under the 2009 offers, arising from the disposal of a site by the Sisters of Mercy.
Of the 18 properties accepted for transfer to the State under the 2009 voluntary offers, the following two remain to be fully completed –
- site at the National Rehabilitation Hospital, Dun Laoghaire from the Sisters of Mercy
- Bláithín Childcare Facility, Drumcondra, from the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd
Valuations of each of these properties will be prepared once the transfers are complete.
In addition to the above, the Congregation of Christian Brothers is in the process of transferring its portfolio of playing fields, which it values at €127m, to the Edmund Rice Schools Trust under an arrangement whereby the State will receive 50% of the proceeds arising from the future disposal of any of those properties. The Congregation has informed the Department that a number of transfers have now been completed, and the Congregation has engaged legal and technical consultants to progress the remaining transfers as a priority.
