IRELAND
Irish Examiner
Monday, November 04, 2013
The Government was told to scrap its pledge on the cost of the child abuse redress scheme before the most powerful religious order in education would discuss school patronage.
By Conor Ryan
Investigative Correspondent
The demand was revealed in newly released records of a three-year stand-off between the State and congregations covered by the indemnity deal.
The Government’s original plan had been to pursue the transfer of school properties from religious orders to bridge a perceived €500m shortfall in contributions to the redress scheme. The Sisters of Mercy said no.
The 2011 Programme for Government said the transfers would be used to get the orders to cover 50% of the €1.5bn redress bill.
In July, Education Minister Ruairi Quinn got Cabinet approval for a more conciliatory tack that would allow congregations to remain in control of schools but relinquish title to the land.
According to a policy proposal put to Mr Quinn in February, the new strategy was designed to move the schools’ property debate away from the battle to get congregations to accept the 50:50 redress bill principle.
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