THOUSANDS of victims of sexual abuse will be denied compensation
unless the government extends the life of the Redress Board, a leading
charity has warned.
One in Four, the group
that provides support to abuse victims, said it was concerned at the
Department of Education's moves to wind down the Redress Board.
The
charity expressed concern that the findings in the Ryan Report in June
last year will prompt many more former residents who suffered abuse, but
who have yet to apply for compensation, to lodge claims.
The Redress Scheme was set up in 2002 to compensate those who suffered abuse as children in 139 state-run institutions.
Although
applications for compensation officially ended in 2005, late
applications have been accepted ever since for what the board judges to
be "exceptional circumstances".
However, One In Four called on the
department to delay closing the board until abuse victims, many who
emigrated once they left the institutions, had the opportunity to apply
for compensation.
In the past five years hundreds of compensation awards, averaging more than €60,000, have been paid to victims.
Since its formation the Redress Board has paid out €832m to abuse victims.
SIC: II/IE