Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 February 2012
219 Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm the status of the Residential Institutions Statutory fund of €110 million; if he will confirm the purpose of the fund and the persons who may access it; and the criteria there will be for survivors to access the fund. [9238/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraWork on the drafting of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill is at an advanced stage and I hope to be in a position to publish the Bill in the coming weeks.
The Fund will focus on victims of residential institutional abuse, with eligibility being confined to those who received an award from the Redress Board or those who received awards pursuant to court actions and who would otherwise have received awards from the Board. While the Fund will target resources at approved services to support survivors' needs, including counselling, psychological support services and mental health services together such health and personal social services, educational services and housing services as the Fund may determine, the Fund will determine the extent of, and conditions attaching to, the provision of these approved services.
The Fund will also promote understanding of the effects of abuse on former residents among service providers and will evaluate the effectiveness of the approved services in meeting the needs of former residents.
To date, €21.05 million of the cash contributions offered have been received and placed in a special interest bearing account in the Central Bank pending the establishment of the Statutory Fund.
