Vol. 554 No. 5
731 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to the establishment of the redress unit under the Residential Institutions Redress Act, 2002; his views on the urgent need for immediate action in view of the age of many of the claimants; and if the redress unit will be fully operational and both receiving and dealing with applicants at the earliest possible date. [17086/02]
The Residential Institutions Redress Act, 2002, provides for the establishment of the Residential Institutions Redress Board. I have appointed three members to the board: the chairperson, Judge Kieran OConnor; Dr. Helen Cummiskey; and Professor Desmond Greer. Further appointments to the board will be made as required. Office accommodation has been secured for the board at Clonskeagh, Dublin 4. The development of an application form and a guide to the application process is nearing completion. When this process has been completed I will move immediately to formally establish the board.
The legislation provides that the board shall have regard to the age and health of an applicant when determining the order in which applications are made and allows the board to make an interim payment where the board thinks this would be appropriate.
