Residential Institutions Redress Scheme Eligibility

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 April 2015

Tuesday, 21 April 2015

Ceisteanna (603)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

603. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out her views on concerns that a State agency, applying an element of discretion in deciding on cases of extreme hardship for persons who were outrageously abused under the State's watch, and her Department not performing either regular or ongoing audits or having oversight of this application of discretion has the effect of inflicting unnecessary and further hardship on persons who have already suffered enough, and who, rightly, may be deeply suspicious of the State, its agencies and their secretive decision-making processes, due to the State's failures of oversight in the past. [15701/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

It is a matter for the Board of Caranua to determine its criteria for making decisions in accordance with the provisions of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 Act and I have no role in that process. Any former resident who is dissatisfied with a decision made by Caranua on their application can appeal that decision to the independent appeals officer in accordance with section 22 of the 2012 Act. I expect to receive Caranua's annual report for 2014 shortly and I understand that this Report will address the use of the exceptional circumstances criteria. This report will then be laid before each House of the Oireachtas in accordance with the provisions of the 2012 Act.