Despite attempts to share bill on a 50:50 basis, contributions from congregations amount to just €480m, a shortfall of €270m
Eighteen religious congregations that managed the majority of residential institutions – such as orphanages, reformatories and industrial schools for children – have contributed to a State redress scheme in two ways: a legally binding indemnity agreement reached in 2002, and voluntary offers made since 2009.
Records show that this sum has, “to a large extent”, been realised through a combination of cash and properties which have been transferred to the State. The report concluded that physical and emotional abuse were features of the institutions examined, while sexual abuse “occurred in many of them”. It found that the Department of Education had a “deferential and submissive attitude” towards the congregations that ran the institutions, to the extent that it compromised its ability to carry out its statutory duty of inspection and monitoring of the schools.
Internal records note that these contributions are not part of any legally binding agreement and “there is no apparent legal requirement on congregations to complete their contributions and no recourse if, for example, properties are not accepted or the valuation on transfer is less than the original offer”.
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