Statutory fund will support the former residents of institutions
By Catherine Shanahan
Wednesday, July 06, 2011
THE Government is to proceed with legislation to establish a statutory fund with the power to arrange and grant-aid a range of services to support victims of residential institutional abuse.
The Residential Institutions Statutory Fund will be funded by the €110 million in cash offered to it by religious congregations by way of compensation to those abused in their care.
It follows extensive consultations with survivors of residential abuse and a public consultation process.
The seven-member fund will be run by a chief executive answerable to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and will fall within the scope of the Ombudsman and Freedom of Information legislation.
Announcing the measure yesterday, Education and Skills Minister Ruairi Quinn said more than 13,000 former residents who have received awards from the Residential Institutions Redress Board will be eligible to apply for support from the fund.
“Some former residents advocate a simple distribution of the available money,” he said.
“However, I believe that the fund should target resources at services to support former residents’ needs, such as counselling, psychological support services and mental health services, health and personal social services, educational services and housing services.”
To date, contributions of €20.6m have been received towards the statutory fund. These and the remaining contributions to be received will be invested in an investment account to be established by the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA).
The fund will take over the functions of the Education Finance Board for abuse survivors, which will be dissolved. As responsibility for information for survivors will also be taken on by the fund, funding of survivor groups by the Department of Education will cease.
The fund will have the power to hold and dispose of land or an interest in land, and may acquire, hold and dispose of any other property. Two of its members will be former residents of institutions.
Under the proposed legislation, anyone who knowingly makes a false statement or produces a false document for the purposes of obtaining assistance from the fund will be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine of up to €1,500 or imprisonment for up to 6 months, or both. If convicted on indictment, the fine imposed can be up to €13,000 or imprisonment for up to 3 years, or both.
This appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Wednesday, July 06, 2011
Very well said! :-)
This whole affair has problems-the fact these groups got involved saying we should not be paid directly, but have to apply for any sort of funding. Really, this is keeping us all stuck to the habit, all addicts to the system of dependancy.
Just give us the fecking money, no questions asked, and should I want to squander the whole lot, then so be it.
Who in their right mind at 70, 80 wants to start a degree, (A prospect of employment)
Please sir may I have some more
“I’m Just after reading some of those comments … in which are fair comments & good points” … “Now i would like to make my own comment … I’m a awarded victim of child abuse in irish state ran schools i was awarded a small amound at the redress board in 2007 in which was more abuse on me i did not like the way the redress board treated me i should be awarded money for been put through the redress board” (SHAME ON THEM) … I do not have a spokes person or a grup to notify me of whats going on with this fund I’m left to work it out for my self & find out whats doing on & who’s getting what … so i have decided to go to the top and email Mr. Quinn my self & see what he has to say about this (OUR) fund … I need a home i have a house but i don’t have a (HOME)… If any body would like to go to the top and email Mr. Quinn his email is minister@education.gov.ie
best of luck to all victims
Cathriona
What would happen if one of the TD turned out to be a paedophile would he get protection the same as the criminals in the catholic church.Bankers to seem to be protected is it possible that one of them will be employed to run the Trust fund being set up by the government to help the victims in education and counselling only problem I have not meet any victim that wants what’s on offer.I know the inmates of the DAIL feel that they gave a very fair deal with the redress board to the illiterate victims of the child prisons is this why they are insisting on education or is it to give nice jobs to the unemployed bankers
It is time now for a survey to get a head count of the remaining survivors and there view of the Trust Fund.It is not important what happens to this fund as the victims will not be listened to by anyone in the government and it is not in the interest of of the church or the government to deal with the victims as on the death of the last victim the money will all go back to the state.To the government I say hang on a little longer you are about to get a nice windfall Three years dancing around with the fund three more and education and counselling will be given in potters field.Talk about a system of giving just compensation to the abused as the government is doing while waiting for the last victim to die is every bit as bad as there predecessors done as children suffered in there industrial prisons,
Paddy
Regarding the christmas card from ‘camden town’. which was sent to Pauline. Justto be clear this card did not come from Phyllis Morgan the former rOutreach Worker for the London Irish Survivors Outreach Servivce. Aswe have pointed out many times on this sitePhyllis wasforced to retire because she was over 65. She retired in July and in October this year anew law came into force outlawying age discrimination .Make of that whatyou will. Your card and business letter came from LISOS not Phyllis andnot the Womens Group.
Phyllis is now heading up a new StandAlone Independent Advice Service and is focused on reaching isolated people who havenever accessed advice or help. Moreover she is also developing a Support Network for men which will be up and running in the NewYear. The first meeting took place a month ago and was very succssful. Phyllis is working on a voluntarybasis and the Advice Service is managed by the Womens Group also on avoluntary basis. .
As regardspeople who live in Europe and the States I can absolutely see how it would be difficult to drop into ‘camden town’ perhaps you might like to contact them and see if they have any suggestions to make sure you get information.
It is difficult to see what wecan do for you as we are all just volunteers. I could send you the Womens Group recent Newsletter which has useful information/updates thatmight be of interest. Phyllis Morgansnew office number is Tel 0207 267 9997
Sally Mulready
THIS MONEY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE GOVERNMENT IT IS MONEY GIVEN BY THE PEOPLE OF IRELAND AFTER PAYING THEIR TAXES, IT IS SUCH AS A DISGRACE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING.
THE GOVERNMENT IS THROWING THIER 50% RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE LOST OF A PROPER LIFE ONTO THE THE STATUARY FUND, THEY ARE REFUSING TO PAY ANY MORE ON OUR LIVES FOR THE EDUCATION FUND, COUNSELING FUND, FAMILY TRACING FUND SO WHAT DO THEY DO? CHARGE THE SURVIVORS THEMSELVES FOR THESE. BUT THEY ARE NOT BEING THREATENED WITH IT BEING A CRIMINAL OFFENSE TO USE THIS MONEY FOR THEIR OWN GAINS.
THEY ALREADY TOOK 500 MILLION PLUS ON THAT 500 MILLION THEY GAIN AT LEAST ANOTHER THIRD ON THIS FROM TAXES FROM THOSE IT PAID TO DO THE JOB, AND JUST RECENTLY THEY CLOSED DOWN THE EMBASSY.
WHO IS GOING TO PAY THE WAGES OF THIS INVENTED BOARD?
APOLOGY WHAT APOLOGY ?
THIS SHOULD BE CHALLENGED IN THE EUROPEAN HIGHEST COURT AS SURVIVORS ALL AROUND THE WORLD CAN POSSIBLE GAIN SOMETHING BACK OF WHAT THEY LOST AT LEAST.
THIS STATUARY FUND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH TAXES SO WHY A GOVERNMENT OFFICE?
Well i have recieved a xmas card from the camden town irish centre. its a very buisness like card with information about them. now i have had no news from them in over 6 years so i am surprised. now the question i would like to ask is does that make me one of the survivers thay have helped!!!!!.as for the invitation to pop in there well living abroad i would have to travel over for the cup of tea so no thats not any help at all .
What happens to the trust fund, when the survivors die? The land that has been given to the survivors, by the Catholic church will be worth more in 10 years than the 1 billion compensation that was already given?
CHILDREN, CHILDREN CHILDREN OF SURVIVORS ARE STILL LEFT OUT IN THE COLD WITH NO FUNDS FOR DEVELOPMENT.
HOW MANY CHILDREN ARE THERE UNDER THE AGE OF QUALIFIED FUNDING?
A TINY AMOUNT, CHILDHOOD BENEFIT TO BE CUT AGAIN 10 EURO, LAST YEAR 10 EURO AND THE YEAR BEFORE THE CHRISTMAS BONUS CANCELLED THAT PAID FOR SURVIVOR’S CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS.
YES YOU GROUP LEADERS, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, AND RELIGIOUS YOU ARE ALL FUNDED BY THE TAX PAYER AND YOUR CHILDREN WILL HAVE A GREAT XMAS, THINK NOW HOW CAN YOU DO THIS TO CHILDREN AFTER ALL THAT HAS HAPPENED? HAVE A GREAT XMAS,
BUT REMEMBER THOSE CHILDREN YOU TOOK IT ALL AWAY FROM IN HISTORY TO THIS VERY DAY JUST SO YOU COULD SAVE MONEY FOR YOURSELVES
having been Sentenced to detention in a Reformatory Industrial school for most of my Childhood by the half brained Judges who can’t have had much Gray matter between their ears either they were all Pissed out of their tiny minds or Plain Stupid as they could not tell the difference between a Baby, Young Child ,to an Adult Criminal, It seems their Clones are still there making their own secret decision’s concerning this Statuary Trust Fund,They and so called group leaders will be arse licking each other at the thought of MONEY and More Money, I have never recieved any help ,advice nor help when my child tried to apply to the so called education fund they didn’t want to know so my Grandaughter is now in her 3rd year at University paid for a government grant that she will have to pay back when she gets a job ,she has worked evenings and weekends to keep herself ,their was NO funding forth coming from Ireland .my niece also tried but was told by some incompetent waste of space that it was to comlicated as she lived in a foregin country so she didn’t recieve any of that funding either .I now hear that the Education Dept want to appoint TWO EX survivors to be involved in the runing the Statuary Trust Fund , > It Better NOT be Mrs Buckley <she should Never have been allowed anywhere near Survivors ,whoever handed over Millions to that Woman must be off their head as she is .We have a right to know What she did with all those Millions ,The Aislin's Books must now be handed over to the Garda. The Waters Family should be investigeted where the money they were handed for Avoca House . CORUPT CORUPT.Garda Investigation is a must.
I can truthfully call myself a Survivor having been Sentenced to detention in a Reformatory Industrial school for most of my Childhood by the half brained Judges who can’t have had much Gray matter between their ears either they were all Pissed out of their tiny minds or Plain Stupid as they could not tell the difference between a Baby, Young Child ,to an Adult Criminal, It seems their Clones are still there making their own secret decision’s concerning this Statuary Trust Fund,They and so called group leaders will be arse licking each other at the thought of MONEY and More Money, I have never recieved any help ,advice nor help when my child tried to apply to the so called education fund they didn’t want to know so my Grandaughter is now in her 3rd year at University paid for a government grant that she will have to pay back when she gets a job ,she has worked evenings and weekends to keep herself ,their was NO funding forth coming from Ireland .my niece also tried but was told by some incompetent waste of space that it was to comlicated as she lived in a foregin country so she didn’t recieve any of that funding either .I now hear that the Education Dept want to appoint TWO EX survivors to be involved in the runing the Statuary Trust Fund , > It Better NOT be Mrs Buckley <she should Never have been allowed anywhere near Survivors ,whoever handed over Millions to that Woman must be off their head as she is .We have a right to know What she did with all those Millions ,The Aislin's Books must now be handed over to the Garda. The Waters Family should be investigeted where the money they were handed for Avoca House . CORUPT CORUPT.Garda Investigation is a must.
Hi to all, I have being informed that there are two jobs going on the trust fund I am putting myself forward and it would be a good idea if all the victims also put there names forward to stop what happened in the other fund, they are only putting two on the board so it would be a good idea to print off your application and one for anyone that was in the child prisons and send them to the Dep. of education.and the best of luck. Or am I wasting my time have the group leaders>lick arse< got there before me keep the letters coming to this site otherwise the government and the pedos in the church will think we are all dead and we cannot have that can we.
Hello all well the fact that ireland had two different kinds of invaders at the same time makes the situation different. no wars get won and the Catholic church as invaders destroyed the culture. so whats left is an injured country. the romans brought in ways of making the people forget the knowledge inherited from the past. and the war with the english kept everyones attention .
Why do the Irish people, per se, both here in Ireland and elsewhere (e.g., in America) keep expecting to get honest answers from their … what shall I call it (them) – their “Makers” ???
Must have something to do with one’s “Identity Crisis” = identification with one’s Abuser – aka- so-called Stockholme Syndrome ?
NB: I’m Irish born and bred myself, but I don’t identify with the average Irish citizen. Yes, I said CITIZEN – not consumer, not a commodity …
Best wishes to you all here on this forum.
Martha
SORRY PADDY THAT WORD START SHOULD BE THE WORD STOP PUSHING FILTH UNDER THE CARPET OOPS
thank you william and pauline so very much for your wonderful words regards robert and thanks to paddy for this site.
MR QUINN NEEDS TO WAKE UP TO THE TRUTH BEFORE IT TURNS ON HIM AND HIS GOVERNMENT AS FOR ALL PARTIES FOR HOW THEY DEALT WITH THIS WHOLE SITUATION REGARDING SURVIVORS NEEDS,
YOU HAVE TO BE OPEN AND HONEST OR THE PEOPLE OF IRELAND WILL VOTE YOU ALL INTO THE HISTORY BOOKS AS NOT TO BE TRUSTED, FOR SO MANY YEARS NOW PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TREATED AS FOOLS BY GOVERNMENTS DO THEY NOT REALISE YET THE PEOPLE ARE NOT AS STUPID AS THEY THINK, I LOVE IRELAND AND ITS BRAVE PEOPLE,BUT THE LEADERS NEED TO START PUSHING FILTH UNDER THE CARPET AS IT JUST BUILDS AND SPREADS SO EVERYONE CAN SEE EVENTUALLY WHAT IS GOING ON.
FOR INSTANCE LOOK AT WHAT FINALLY HAPPENED TO THE RIGHT OF PLACE
Hi Paddy, After reading the email from Robert it makes me wonder if we the survivors could have done more I know that we all tried to get justice, but our faith was sealed by Minister M woods a long time ago if this man had got fair compensation from the redress board he would have a better chance to be able to look to the future for his family and himself.As for the thrust fund that has or will be imposed on the survivors I hope it is of benefit to Robert and his family,and I hope he don’t louse faith, we have came a long way in the last twelve years I see all my friends are still sending in there opinion to I wish you well keep up the good work.Thanks Paddy
Hello Robert. You are right this kind of thing that does not adapt itself to the people in need well its wrong. we are not adapted to what it proposes. thats very useless and upsetting to many of us . if thay can give education to old people but not to a small child well its wasted. i hope you and your family get help as its so bloody unfair.
Hi Seanie best of luck with that email he never answered mine.
there were simply no funds for survivors children who are too young, NO ONE CARES NO ONE FROM THE EDUCATION BOARD ITSELF.
I HAD TO PHONE ON MANY OCCASIONS AND FINALLY WAS TOLD SORRY YOUR CHILD IS TOO YOUNG FOR ANY OF THE GRANTS ORIGINALLY SET UP FOR SURVIVORS AND FAMILY.
I HAVE WRITTEN ON MANY OCCASIONS ON PADDY,S WEB HERE THE ONLY PLACE I CAN LEAVE MY FEELINGS.
I AM SO DISGUSTED BY ALL INVOLVED IN ALL AGREEMENTS ON BEHALF OF SURVIVORS DISGUSTED THEY NEVER EVEN THOUGHT OF CHILDREN WHO DO NOT QUALIFY ALL THAT FECKEN MONEY AND THE VERY NATURE OF THE WHOLE ISSUE REGARDING (((( CHILD ABUSE ))) MR QUINN SHOULD BE CALLED MR MA GOO BLIND TO EVERY THING.
I HAVE EMAIL EVERYONE EVEN THE HEAD OF THE COUNTRY,
EVEN SURVIVOR GROUPS.
WE LIVE IN A RURAL AREA ON JUST THE LOWEST FORM OF WELFARE AND NOT EVEN A CLOTHING GRANT NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING SO MUCH FOR LISTENING HEARING UNDERSTANDING SURVIVORS AND THEIR NEEDS.
WHAT DISGUSTS ME EVEN MORE IS THE HSE WHO IS SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING WITH THE SO CALLED GROUP.
MY CHILD IS ALONE, SHE HAS NO ONE ELSE TO PLAY WITH , NO CRECH, NO ACTIVEITIES AS WE CANNOT AFFORD THEM.
MR QUINN IF THERE IS NOTHING FOR MY CHILD THEN WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT EVEN IN THAT LETTER ABOUT STATURARY FUND THERE IS NOTHING IN BLACK AND WHITE FOR INFANTS, TODDLERS, BABIES THE AGES OF INNOSENCE WHERE DEVELOPMENT IS VITAL.
YOU SHOUTED IN THE DAIL AT FINNA FIAL NOW YOU ARE EVEN WORSE JUST DISGUSTING YOU YOUR PARTY THE RTE THE MEDIA THE HSE THE WHOLE LOT OF YOU DEPRIVE INNOCENT CHILDREN AND HIDE BEHIND THE GARBAGE TALKS OF THE CHURCH THIS AND THAT THE MEDIA SELLING THE PUBLIC RUBBISH AND NOT THE WELFARE OF SURVIVORS BUT THEN WE ARE ALL HUSHED OR ELSE.
DISGUSTING DISGUSTING DISGUSTING THE WHOLE LOT OF YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED.
That’s one heck of a drive Seanie. Nice to read that you managed to get music to your ears. It’s important to bear in mind that Minister Quinn will appoint two people who were institutionalised to the Statutory Trust Board – those appointments will be made at the discretion of the Minister. The Residential Statutory Trust Fund Board will consist of seven members, that’s as I understand it. Paddy
Minister Quinn proposes to appoint two people who were in institutions and abused. I have no idea whatever as to who those people are going to be nor has the Minister indicated who they will be – at least not that I’m aware of. Sorry I can’t be of more help Mary. Best wishes. Paddy.
PADDY , Who are the two people that are going to be on the board of the trust board. If they are from any of the group leaders who have lined there pockets over the last 11 years,the fund will not last very long. As to the Mr Quinn talking of Education ,councilling health promblims I doubt if any of this so called fund will make its way to England
Keep well Number 97.
Good morning Paddy,
I am reading the latest after four days driving from Canada to Yuma, Arizona and as it is early in the morning I am rubbing my eyes. No funding for the groups, that is music to the ears, at least that part of our request to abolish the Fund altogether has got attention. I don’t see how the fund will help myself or any others who are further afield from Ireland and England. I will e-mail Mr.Quinn and put that question to him. Thanks for the heads up Paddy.
All the very best.
Seanie
Albert and Mary and Pauline have it right Paddy, It seems to me, it is the groups who should be speaking up for us survivors who have the gag firmly over their mouths . the NEW RIGHT OF PLACE in my opinion,are speaking for us ,but the majority rule will always apply, according to reports the other groups are in total agreement with the statutory fund , thanks again Paddy for your page keep well.
I’m sure you’re aware Andrew that the Redress Board operated the same tactics – threatening us with hefty fines and terms of imprisonment. Gagged as children, we are now gagged as adults. Surely this flies in the face of all natural justice. Don’t be surprised if the next move is going to be the reopening of Industrial Schools for those of us who appeared before the Redress Board. That way, the powers that be who want to keep us silent might well be plotting and scheming something of that nature. We’ll all be expert hoop-jumpers before too long. Paddy
Since the redress board have all our data i dont see the point of threatening us. how can we make false statements. after all we are not the ones who have lied thier way through this.thay even have records of our being condemed.
Paddy, to be quite honest Catherine Shannahan the writer of the above artice “Statutory fund will support the former residents of institutions” should sit down and hear the concerns and issues of the majority of victims of institutional child abuse who are against this so -called Statutory fund.
sorry paddy a sleep this morning when righting email of course I am not asking you to explain how this is to work this is for the minister to explain but I assume he is a reader of your site if not he should not dealing with the victims of church and state as it is one of the ways we have to let the government know how we feel about the ongoing abuse inflicted on the victims of industrial school inmates.It also needs to be explained where the two inmates that are to be put on the board are to come from and also the three other members and are they to be payed from this fund and if so are they to be employed by the remaining inmates or the government.This all needs to be explained so as not to have a mess like the group funding,and the education fund that only benefited the few at the expense of the real victims the ones with no voice,anyway far better if the victims had being given the money as it is going to create more problems and more suffering for the victims and the catholic church in the years to come.All they had to do was come clean years ago, look after there victims and it would have all being finished, its the same for the woman of the Magdalena laundries william
I notice the last paragraph talks about punishment, including imprisonment .. is this directed at people who were incarcerated as children or at the people who were our gaolers and who spent the whole of the 20th. century telling lies and living a lie? And for what purpose (and for whose purpose) is something like that being included in the legislation? Are survivors now going to be put into groups – deserving survivors and undeserving survivors?
We’ve already jumped thru many hoops to get to this point – and it appears the hoop-jumping is to continue!
Hi Paddy,It would be very good it Minister WOULD EXPLAIN TO THE VICTIMS LIVING OUTSIDE IRELAND WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE TRUST FUND HE IS ABOUT SET UP OR IS THIS ONLY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE SURVIVORS LIVING IN IRELAND,ANYWAY I AM PLANING ON RETURNING TO IRELAND IN THE NEW YEAR AS I HAVE SERVED ENOUGH TIME AS A REFUGE SO WITH THIS IN MIND WILL THIS FUND PAY MY RENT AND WHAT BENEFIT WILL THERE BE FOR MY FRIENDS THAT CANNOT RETURN. AS COUNSELLING AND MENTAL PROBLEMS AND EDUCATION ARE OF NO BENEFIT TO THE SURVIVORS WITH ONE LEG IN THE GRAVE,BUT WOULD BE OF BENEFIT TO THE ABUSERS THE SURVIVORS SURVIVED THE CHILD PRISONS AND THE INJUSTICE THAT WAS PILED ON THEM THROUGH THERE LIVES WITHOUT COUNCIL EDUCATION PRIESTS AND CONFESSION,IF THIS IS TO BE IMPOSED ON THE VICTIMS AT LEAST EXPLAIN THE BENEFITS TO THE VICTIMS AND MAKE SURE THAT ALL VICTIMS GET THERE SHARE NOT LIKE THE EDUCATION FUND FARCE.ANY GROUP RECEIVING MONEY SHOULD NOT RECEIVE IT FROM THIS FUND BUT FROM THE GOVERNMENT THAT EMPLOYED THEM WILLIAM