The Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (RISF) is to be officially established next Monday, the 25th of March. The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D. is also announcing the appointment of the members of the RISF Board and the designation of the first CEO.
The RISF Board is a new body which is being established under the provisions of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012. The Board will oversee the use of the cash contributions of up to €110 million pledged by the religious congregations to support the needs of some 15,000 survivors of residential institutional child abuse. These survivors have received awards from the Residential Institutions Redress Board or equivalent court awards.
The support to be provided will include a range of approved services, including health and personal social services, education and housing services. To date €40m in cash contributions have been received from the congregations and a further €27m is expected on the establishment of the Fund.
Minister Quinn said, “The establishment of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board represents a critically important step in responding to the needs of those who were subjected to horrendous abuse while children in residential institutions. I greatly appreciate the fact that the members have agreed to contribute to the work of the Board and I wish them well in their work. While the tasks facing the Fund are significant, I am confident that it will make a meaningful contribution to the wellbeing of the survivors of institutional abuse.”
The composition of the Board is as follows:
Ms Sylda Langford, Chairperson
Ordinary Members (former residents of institutions)
Mr Paddy Doyle
Ms Bernadette Fahy
Ms Phyllis Morgan
Mr Martin Power
Other Ordinary Members
Mr Damian Casey
Mr Austin Currie
Mr Tom Daly
Ms Katherine Finn BL
The Board members are appointed for a four year term of office, commencing on 25th March, 2013. The positions are not remunerated.
The Minister also announced that Ms Mary Higgins is to be appointed as chief executive officer of the RISF Board. She was selected following a recruitment campaign held by the Public Appointments Service.
The Minister also commenced Part 4 of the 2012 Act, which dissolves the Education Finance Board and transfers its remaining functions and staff to the RISF, with effect from 29th March 2013
