Abuse compensation could cost State €1.35bn

THE final cost to the State of compensating institutional abuse victims through the Redress Board could reach €1.35 billion - 10 times the amount provided by religious institutions.

The estimate was provided to the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee (PAC) yesterday by the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) and the Department of Education.

C&AG John Purcell said it was impossible to provide an accurate prediction of what the final cost to the exchequer would be.