17 February, 2006 - Minister Hanafin establishes new statutory body to provide education funding for former residents of institutions and their families


Fund of €11m available for those seeking educational opportunities

The Minister for Education and Science, Mary Hanafin T.D., today formally established a new statutory body – the Education Finance Board - to provide an education grants scheme for former residents of institutions for children and for their families.

Meeting members of the new Board in Dublin today, Minister Hanafin said “I am delighted to announce the establishment of this new statutory body.  The Board’s main function will be to address the educational needs of former residents and their families by providing them financial support to participate in a wide range courses and programmes best suited to their individual circumstances. 

I have asked the Board to actively encourage survivors to avail of this scheme as I believe it will be of considerable practical benefit to them and their families in enhancing learning and life skills.”    

Minister Hanafin said today marks the beginning of a very important initiative for institutional survivors and their families.  “One that I believe can make a real difference to improving their lives.  For former residents who wish to avail of educational opportunities denied them in the past or for those who would like to see their children go further in education, this initiative will provide significant practical benefit.”

The Board is being formally established under the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (Amendment) Act 2005.  The Minister has appointed Mr Richard Langford as Chairperson along with eight other members, four of whom are former residents - see Annex for details.  The Board will have a fund of approximately €11 million at its disposal. This money will be managed by the National Treasury Management Agency on behalf of the Board. 

Minister Hanafin said she particularly encouraged by the range of experience and expertise which the composition of the Board provides.  “I have always felt that it was important that former residents be represented as widely as possible and also that the various sectors of education and in particular adult or second chance education be represented.  I have no doubt that the skills and knowledge which each one of you brings to the table will contribute to providing a well-designed, well-run scheme which addresses the needs of former residents and their families.”

The new statutory scheme to be administered by the Board will replace a non-statutory scheme which has been operated on an ad-hoc basis prior to the Board’s establishment with the assistance of the City of Dublin VEC.  Pending the determination of criteria for the new scheme, the Board will continue to provide education grants to former residents and their families under existing arrangements.

ANNEX

Membership of Education Finance Board

Chairperson

  • Richard Langford, former CEO of Cork City VEC, Chairman of NQAI

Ordinary Members (former residents of institutions)

  • Christine Buckley, Aislinn Education Centre
  • Jacqui Kavanagh, Right of Place 
  • Michael O’Brien, Right to Peace
  • Patrick Walsh, Irish Survivors of Child Abuse (SOCA)

Other Ordinary Members

  • Jacinta Stewart, CEO of City of Dublin VEC
  • Inez Bailey, Director, National Adult Literacy Agency
  • Brian Mooney, President, Institute of Guidance Counsellors
  • John Brennan, Primary School Teacher