Section 8 of the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002, provides that applications may be made to the redress board within three years of the establishment of the board. This means that the statutory closing date for receipt of applications by the board is 15 December 2005. The board has made arrangements for applications to be received at its offices up to midnight on that date and it has placed advertisements in the media recently highlighting this arrangement.
Under section 5(1)(b) of the Act, the redress board is required to make all reasonable efforts through public advertisement or otherwise to inform potential applicants of the board’s functions. Over the past three years, the board has conducted an extensive advertising and publicity campaign which, as well as giving general information on the redress scheme, has specifically highlighted the closing date for making applications to the board. Advertisements have been placed in all the national broadsheet, tabloid and main provincial newspapers, on RTE 1 television, Network 2, Sky 1, Sky News, TV3 and TG4, and on all national and major local radio stations. The board also has had a website in operation for three years providing regular newsletters, media releases and general information on the redress scheme, including reference to the closing date for making applications to the board.
For the benefit of Irish emigrants resident in the UK, the board held 12 information days in the UK in 2004 and placed advertisements in the Sunday newspapers, daily newspapers and other publications there aimed specifically at the Irish community. It has also distributed 7,500 leaflets and 7,500 pamphlets to the network of Irish societies in the UK.
For persons resident in other countries, the board has made arrangements with the Department of Foreign Affairs for information on the redress scheme, including the closing date for applications, to be sent to Irish embassies abroad requesting them to distribute this information to all relevant Irish organisations with whom they have contact.
Last month, the board placed additional advertisements in the main Irish newspapers, selected UK publications and Irish publications in the U.S.A. and Australia drawing particular attention to the closing date for applications to the board.
The extensive advertising and publicity campaign conducted by the board in relation to the redress scheme has ensured that the board and its activities retain a high public profile. I am satisfied, therefore, that the board has made all reasonable efforts to publicise the scheme to potential applicants and draw attention to the closing date for receipt of applications.
My Department has provided funding for victim support groups at home and in the UK, including funding for five outreach centres in the UK, to facilitate the provision of information and advice on the redress scheme and other Government initiatives for survivors of child abuse.
