Abuse payouts may have to rise

PLANS to extend the list of institutions covered by the Residential Institutions Act will increase the State’s liability under the compensation scheme beyond the current estimate of €1.5 billion, child abuse survivors have warned.

A spokesperson for the Department of Education confirmed that the number of residential institutions would be increased, but was unable to say how many more would be added.

Under Section Four of the Redress Act, the Minister for Education can add to the list of institutions by statutory instrument.