Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 May 2024
221. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the outstanding balance owed by religious congregations further to the 2002 indemnity agreement and the additional commitments after 2009 following the publication of the Ryan report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20717/24]
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”). The amounts offered were valued by the congregations at €480.6 million.
Some €125 million of the €128 million provided for under the 2002 Indemnity Agreement has been contributed, with the transfer of two properties remaining to be fully completed.
The voluntary offers made in the aftermath of the publication of the Ryan Report in 2009 included cash, properties and contributions in kind, and were valued by the congregations at €352.6 million. To date, contributions amounting to approximately €120 million have been received. When account is taken of offers not accepted, changes in the valuation of the properties offered and the value of properties offered but not being reckoned as a contribution, the total value of the voluntary offers achievable will be lower than the amount offered.
