Fund to help abused ‘rebuild’ lives

MORE than 500 former residents of institutions where children were abused have received educational grants to help them rebuild their lives.

But tens of thousands more are eligible for a share of the funding, made available from the €127 million contribution of the religious orders towards the cost of compensating abuse victims through the Residential Institutions Redress Board (RIRB). It is open for applications from former residents — whether they were abused or not — their children, spouses, grandchildren or stepchildren.

Each former resident is entitled to up to €12,500 to help cover education costs and the same is payable to their family, with up to €4,000 for each relative from a €12.7 million fund.