Religious orders are paying their share

I AM sure there was no intention to mislead in the article in a recent edition of the Irish Examiner: “Religious orders must keep their moral and financial commitments”.

The article is, however, seriously misleading and factually wrong.

The total sum due under the indemnity agreement (€128m) referred to in the article has long ago been paid to the State by the religious congregations concerned.

The “about €20m” payment also quoted in the article relates to further voluntary contributions that individual congregations are making to the proposed Statutory Trust for past residents and will, we understand, greatly exceed this figure.

I can speak for the Irish Oblates and say we have promised €20 million cash.

However, we are still waiting for the Government to establish this trust, which was announced in May 2009.

This money has been placed in a designated account and will be paid into the Trust as soon as it is set up by the Government.

We understand some progress is now taking place on this issue.

In a letter dated April 6, 2011, and addressed to myself, the Department of Education and Skills states:

“Thank you for your recent letter to the Minister for Education and Skills, Mr Ruairi Quinn, TD, regarding the establishment of a Trust for former residents of institutions.

“The position in relation to the proposed Statutory Fund is that the Department has, following a comprehensive consultation process, prepared proposals together with a General Scheme of a Bill to provide for the Statutory Fund, which will be submitted to the Minister and Government.”

We will continue to co-operate fully with the Government on this issue and as soon as movement on the Trust occurs to the satisfaction of all concerned, we will make our contribution.

Fr. Willie Fitzpatrick OMI

Oblates of Mary Immaculate

Dublin 8