IRELAND
Irish Independent
SHANE PHELAN PUBLIC AFFAIRS EDITOR – 24 OCTOBER 2013
A scheme set up to pay for the treatment for survivors of institutional abuse faces being cut short after Catholic orders failed to stump up almost €40m in promised funding.
The 18 religious orders pledged €110m towards the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (RISF), which will pay for mental health, social, educational and housing services for survivors.
However, the Irish Independent has learned just €72m has been received by the fund, which is due to begin issuing grants in January.
The scheme was initially anticipated to last up to five years, but this period may now have to be shortened due to the funding shortfall.
In contacts with the Department of Education, the religious orders – with the Christian Brothers and the Daughters of Charity to the forefront – have blamed the depressed property market for the shortfall.
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