By Conall Ó Fátharta
MONDAY, DECEMBER 06, 2010
AN estimated €34 million has been provided to groups supporting victims of institutional abuse between 2001 and 2009
The latest report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, on the Department of Education and Skills, found that a total of 11 survivor groups (six based in Ireland and five in Britain) have received funding in this period.
Between 2001 and 2009, the Department of Education provided €11.6m to “support groups in the provision of an information and referral service”.
A further €16.7m was provided by the HSE to provide a range of services including payment of rent, associated office costs and a contribution towards the provision of an outreach centre.
The Department of Health contributed €4.3m to provide “outreach services in Britain, funding towards counselling referrals and support services and office and accommodation costs.” The remainder of the funding came from the Department of Environment and the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The report highlighted that the further funding of one group, in particular, was being examined.
“In the light of a recent HSE report, which found inadequacies in governance arrangements in one group, the department is consulting with the HSE in light of the findings and further funding of the organisation is dependent on a satisfactory outcome to this process,” said the report.
The report also made a recommendation that the effectiveness of certain aspects of the outreach and support provided to survivor groups should be examined.
“At a suitable juncture, it would be useful to examine the effectiveness of outreach and support provided to survivor groups,” the report concluded.
The likely cost of the redress scheme for victims of abuse in residential institutions in now put at €1.1 billion. The bulk of the contribution of religious congregations agreed with the state has been provided by way of cash or property.
While final title to 28 properties is still being established, the transferees are in possession of them and all but seven properties have been brought into use.
This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Monday, December 06, 2010
When i was in dublin i met some men survivers i thought thay should have been giving some where to live properly. the offices of these groups are very posh looking and cant help thinking thay could have used this money to build a place for them instead of paying rent.Instead of that thay were sad people living in temporary places. that wont help them to feel like poor relatives visiting the better off members.thay wouldnt need to be in the most expensive parts of dublin.the groups do .
Hi Pauline Re your comment
“the money would be better spent in helping towards independence”, I totally agree, you’re spot on, and as Paddy says The funded groups are well past their sell by date, its my opinion that most “Survivors” are getting more support from Paddy’s site and also ‘The Shame of Ireland’ website, than any of the funded groups claiming to represent us!
will take this opportunity to wish Paddy and all Survivors and families
A Very Happy Christmas and all the Very Best for 2011
Best Wishes to all… Kay
Your right David. All monies given to the various groups purporting to support ‘survivors’ is tax-payers/public money and as such we are ABSOLUTELY ENTITLED to know how much they got and how it was spent. That is an irrefutable fact. The HSE or the Government must make this information available if asked to do so. Paddy.
Paddy surely the amount of 34 million euro (we haven’t got the euro sign on UK keyboards) given to groups supporting survivors has to be accounted for! I would lovwe for an audit to be carried out and for group leaders to explain (a breakdown) of how they spent the money, for what purposes etc. It seems an awful lot for a period of eight years.
Hi to all
Please use link below to vote for Paddy Doyle to represent “Survivors”
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/mandate-for-paddy-doyle-to-represent-survivors/
Nominations have also started for Kathleen O’Malley
to act alongside Paddy, both to act on our behalf to be “Our Voice” in all dealings with the Irish Government!
To vote Please visit ‘Shame of Ireland’ using the following link
http://shameofireland.co.uk/forum/topics/nominations-for-spokesperson
Many Thanks Kay
Paddy,
Each morning at dawn, here in the Imperial Valley where the farmers grow the vegetables for the Country. I hear a farmer shoot at the swarms of birds which “I liken to ourselves” shot while trying to get to the seed, (compensation), to survive. They lie dying and dead in the fields as the vulture hawks (Groups) circle above before decending and feeding on the carcasses. This is how I see the disgraceful disposition being acted out before the eyes of the world. Paddy, it is time to open the pandora box. Expose the Vultures.
Seanie.
I’ve no idea whatever how many ‘survivors’ were helped by money given to the various groups. If any of the various groups around the country would like to pass this information to this website I will be happy to post it. Paddy.
It would be interesting to see just how many Survivor’s were helped in any way by these massive amount’s given to these various Group’s?
Perhaps all member’s of this great site of Paddy’s, and Shame of Ireland also,would be kind enough to post their answer’s here, so we might in fact see for ourselves!!
BUT I WONT HOLD MY BREADTH!
Jimmy.
the compensation scheme was a farce from the very beginning. The so called solicitors were never fighting for the survivors by toeing the guideline enforce by the redress board.seems like everybody else has access to the monies except for the survivors whose compensation was minimal in comparison to the suffering and still suffering. I’m married to one of seven siblings who were institutionalise. One brother is dead unable to cope with the mental pain,one is living on the street and the rest on permanent medication. two went to the redress board and got more abused and the rest did not want to go after that. Now that there’s recognition of the wrong through the Ryan’s report where additional funds are made available,the vultures start coming out instead of making right the wrong. If the monies are meant for the suffering then give it to them instead of dreaming of scheme where most likely be unaccounted for. Millions has disappeared while the survivors got pennies. Do the right thing as the suffering are still suffering.
Now the so called Irish government must see to that reparation monies be not put at risk and diverted away from the victims. There is a moral aspect to this issiue as well, knowing that the behaviour of so called groups has been less than satisfactory and still are adamant in not respecting the wishes of the victims. I live on the European mainland and do not wish to be any part of any group who purport to speak for me. I have no use for these groups in my life. Disperse these monies to victims and let them go in peace.
most of the services offerd are already in existance for everybody. none of them are qualified so thay can only refere people to people who are. Sally in her comments says that survivers who go to the Irish centre also go to other groups but we all need to get on with our lives.the money would be better spent in helping towards independence. if its just keeping these offices open then the only people who benifet are those who work there. and thats been going on for a long time.its an awful lot of money for a facade
Thank you Paddy
It seems to me ,a lot of attention is being paid to how, the so called groups who SUPPOSEDLY represent us, can be continuously funded and none to the people who really MATTER us SURVIVORS,Disband them I say, thank you. keep well and happy Christmas to you.