The RISF Board is a new body, established under the provisions of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012. The Board will oversee the use of the cash contributions of up to €110 million pledged by the religious congregations to support the needs of some 15,000 survivors of residential institutional child abuse. These survivors have received awards from the Residential Institutions Redress Board or equivalent court awards. The support to be provided will include a range of approved services, including health and personal social services, education and housing services.
The Board is chaired by Ms Sylda Langford and comprises four ordinary members who are former residents of institutions:
- Mr Paddy Doyle
- Ms Bernadette Fahy
- Ms Phyllis Morgan
- Mr Martin Power
and four other ordinary members:
- Mr Damian Casey
- Mr Austin Currie
- Mr Tom Daly
- Ms Katherine Finn BL
At its meeting today the Board agreed the appointment of Ms Mary Higgins as chief executive officer, from April 2013. The staff of the former Education Finance Board are transferring to the RISF with effect from 29th March 2013. The Board has commenced work on the arrangements to be put in place for the operation of the Fund.
Further publicity will be undertaken as the work of the Board progresses and a website with detailed information will be available on the Fund’s services in due course.
Editors’ Note:
Board Members Details
Sylda Langford
Chair
Former Director General of the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. Previously Assistant Secretary General in the Department of Justice and Law Reform. She has extensive experience in policy formulation and delivery and has a professional background in social policy and social work. She is Chair of the Citizen's Information Board and a member of the New School Establishment Group.
Paddy Doyle
Former resident. Disability activist and author of “The God Squad”. Member of Committee to oversee the Memorial to victims of institutional abuse.
Bernadette Fahy
Former resident. Counselling Psychologist. Outgoing member of the Education Finance Board. Member of Committee to oversee the Memorial to victims of institutional abuse.
Phyllis Morgan
Former resident living in the UK. Coordinator at the Irish Survivors Advice and Support Service, founded by the Irish Women Survivors Support Network.
Previously with the London Irish Survivors Outreach Service.
Martin Power
Former resident living in the UK. Social worker. Previously involved in youth justice and the NHS.
Damian Casey FCMA
Assistant National Director, Finance Shared Services in the HSE. Previously worked in the private sector in management accounting, financial analysis & reporting.
Tom Daly
Former teacher and Adult Education Officer and Education Officer with City of Cork VEC.
Austin Currie
Former TD and Minister of State1994 to 1997. Previously Minister for Housing, Local Government and Planning in the Northern Ireland Executive. Candidate in 1990 Presidential election.
Katherine Finn
Barrister specialising in Criminal Law. Previously a prosecution solicitor in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
CEO Details
Ms Mary Higgins was most recently an independent Management & Social Policy Consultant. Previously she was the Director of the Homeless Agency and the earlier Homeless Initiative. She has also held the position of Director of Threshold with previous experience in Emigrant Advice and Cherish.