Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 March 2004
133 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of persons who have made compensation applications to the Residential Institutions Redress Board at the latest date for which figures are available; the way in which the number of applications compare with the original estimate made by his Department; if he will give the latest estimate of the number of likely applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9785/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Residential Institutions Redress Board is an independent body established under the terms of the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002. The Act provided for the establishment of the Residential Institutions Redress Board. This board is in place and is fully operational. Judge Sean O'Leary, a High Court judge, is the chairperson of the board and seven other members have also been appointed.
On the basis of the most recent information available from the Residential Institutions Redress Board, the board has received 3,015 applications. To date, the board has completed the process in 765 cases. The average award is approximately €80,000.
The board provides regular updates as to the number of claims received on its website, www.rirb.ie. It is finalising its first annual report which will cover the period 16 December 2002 to 31 December 2003. When this report is received I will make arrangements for it to be laid before each of the Houses of the Oireachtas.
Prior to the establishment of the board, my Department had estimated that there would be approximately 5,000 applicants to the board. It is too early to determine what the final outcome will be at this stage of the process.
