OVER €750m has been paid out so far to people who suffered physical, sexual and emotional abuse in child care institutions - and to their lawyers.But so far, only 9,896 applications for compensation out of 14,541 received by the Residential Institutions Redress Board (RIRB) have been processed.
That means that 30pc of the cases have yet to be dealt with.
In October, Education Minister Mary Hanafin told the Dail the final cost of the scheme "may be somewhere between" €1bn and €1.3bn.
The average award to date has been €66,845 according to an end of year newsletter from the board which reveals 23 victims have received the maximum award of €300,000.
The awards are based on a special weightings calculation related to the severity of the abuse they suffered and its effect on them.
Out of a total payout of some €758m so far, €97m has been paid in legal costs to 645 firms of solicitors representing the victims.
Applications for compensation closed on December 15, 2005 but the RIRB has discretionary powers to consider late applications in "exceptional circumstances".
Submissions
The newsletter says 253 late applications have been received up until December 20 with 36 accepted, 144 disallowed and three withdrawn.
Information from applicants is awaited in 65 other cases and five of the late submissions have still to be considered by the board.
The RIRB is processing cases at a rate of 220 a month and priority is given to applications from people who were born before 1936 or if they are sufferring from a medical illness or psychiatric conditions which is life threatening.
The victims claim they were abused in institutions such as schools, orphanages, hospitals and children's homes that were funded by the State but were mainly run by the Catholic religious congregations.
Some 61pc of the compensation claims have come from Ireland, 33pc from Britain and Northern Ireland and a further 4pc from Australia and the US.
About 55pc of the applications have come from men.
Five years ago, 18 religious orders agreed to pay over €128m in cash and property to the State as part of a deal whereby they were granted indemnity against future legal actions by former residents.
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