Róisín Shortall
Ceist:60 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the operation to date of the Educational Institutions Redress Board. [5844/03]
Written Answers - Residential Institutions Redress Scheme.
I presume the Deputy is referring to the Residential Institutions Redress Board.
The Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002 was signed into law by the President on 10 April 2002. The purpose of the Act is to set up a framework to enable victims to apply for compensation. The Act allows for the establishment of the Residential Institutions Redress Board to administer a scheme that will enable victims of institutional abuse to make an application for compensation.
The provisions of the Act allow the board to make awards based on a lower threshold of proof than is required in taking a case through the courts. An applicant is expected to provide proof of their identity, that he or she was resident in an institution, that he or she was injured while so resident and that the injury is consistent with any abuse that is alleged to have occurred while so resident.
The Residential Institutions Redress Board was formally established on 16 December 2002. The board is chaired by Judge Sean O'Leary, Circuit Court and has four ordinary members, namely, Professor Desmond Greer, Dr. Helen Cummiskey, Dr. Ruth Pilkington and Mr. Richard O'Connell. The Residential Institutions Redress Board's offices are located in Belfield Office Park, Clonskeagh, Dublin 4.
The Residential Institutions Redress Board is independent of my Department and I am not therefore in a position to indicate the number of applications received by it to date or when the board will begin its first hearings. I am aware that the board has undertaken an advertising campaign informing possible applicants that application forms and a guide to the application process are available from its offices in Clonskeagh.
Joan Burton
Ceist:61 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Education and Science the properties subsequently transferred to the State in respect of the deed of indemnity with a number of religious congregations signed on 5 June 2002; the estimated value of each; the purpose to which the transferred property will be put; if there are restrictions governing the future use or disposal of these properties by the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5818/03]
Under the terms of the indemnity agreement between the State and the religious congregations signed on 5 June 2002 provision was made for the congregations to transfer property to the State to the value of €76.86 million as a contribution to the redress scheme. There are two schedules of property. The first one which is valued at €40.32 million represents transfers of property to the State, State agencies, local authorities or voluntary organisations which have taken place since 11 May 1999. Any property transferred to a voluntary organisation on this schedule must be subject to a restriction of further transfer or alienation of 25 years from the date of the indemnity.
The second schedule which is valued at €36.54 million represents properties that the congregations have offered to the State. The State has a period of nine months from 5 June 2002 to consider each of the properties. In the event the State cannot benefit by accepting the transfer of a particular property, it can reject the offer. The religious congregation concerned can then offer an alternative property or cash sum equivalent.
The property aspect of the agreement is still being considered by officials of my Department and is the subject of ongoing negotiations with the legal representatives of CORI. When the schedules of property have been agreed they will be made available.