Enda Kenny’s response to a letter about the proposed Statutory Fund for people abused while in the care of the state and religious orders.
Acknowledging receipt of your recent email.
The Ryan report, which was published in May 2009, included evidence of abuse from over 1,000 survivors of the orphanages, industrial schools and reformatory schools, some 500 of which related to sexual abuse by members of religious orders, teachers and other lay workers.
In June 2009 following a meeting with the Taoiseach, it was announced that it had been agreed that the 18 religious orders which were party to the 2002 compensation agreement with the State would contribute to a new trust to be set up to provide supports to those affected by the Ryan Report.
They agreed to contribute to a trust the Taoiseach proposed be set up, so further financial and other supports could be provided to people who had been in the institutions as children. They also committed themselves to identifying resources, both financial and other, within a transparent process with a view to delivering upon commitments made.
It would appear that little progress has been made in establishing the Trust. Rest assured that Fine Gael will continue to press the Government to establish the Trust, as promised.
Very best wishes
Yours sincerely
ENDA KENNY, TD
LEADER OF FINE GAEL (The main opposition party in Dáil Eireann – the Irish Parliament)
