State costs should focus on victims

On one of his last days in office as Education Minister in the last Government, Michael Woods struck a deal with the religious institutions in relation to compensation for victims of abuse in residential institutions.

That deal could end up costing the taxpayer up to €1 billion, in the estimation of the Comptroller and Auditor General.

The total contribution of the Catholic Church had been capped at around €127 million, most of which is in the value of land handed over to the State, as well as other lands to be handed over and some €40m in cash.