The Irish Christian Brothers claimed last night that State funding of the order's industrial schools was never adequate to cover the costs involved.
Responding to allegations made in the RTE programme States of Fear, the order said to imply that boys were deprived of food while money was diverted elsewhere was grossly unfair and untrue.
"We strenuously affirm that State funds received by the congregation for the upkeep of industrial schools was used for its intended purpose. It is totally untrue to suggest that any taxpayers' money was in some way diverted for other uses," the order said in a statement.
During the E programme a former inmate of a school said the children were sometimes so hungry they ate grass.
According to the order, it received 10/- (50p) per boy per week in 1939; 30/(£1.50) per boy per week in 1950 and 55/(£2.75) per week per boy in 1964. It points out that in the UK in 1950 boys in similar institutions were allocated £5-4-9 (£5.23p) and in Northern Ireland the allocation was £4.
In 1955 the order had sought extra funding and gave detailed figures to the Department of Education which showed the cost of keeping a boy in an institution was £2-15-5 (£2.77) per week at a time when the State subvention was £1-10-0 (£1.50).
The order stated the money given by the State had to cover all costs including medical, food, clothing, building and household maintenance and that in 1950 the majority of schools were running at a deficit. Boys in the care of the order were given regular and appropriate medical attention.
The statement said the Brothers took a considered decision not to appear on the programme as it was not given the appropriate assurances by the producer, Mary Rafferty, that would lead it to believe the programme would be fair and balanced.
It also felt it would not be given adequate time to make its case - it was told an interview with a brother would be edited down to about four to five minutes.
While reiterating its sincere apologies for hurt or trauma suffered by anyone entrusted to its care, the order pointed out that 20,000 boys went through institutions run by the Brothers but only 145 complaints of mistreatment had been made. "One complaint, of course, is one too many," it concluded.
The Faoiseamh Help-line for those seeking help will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. today, Thursday and Friday at 1800 331234, or 0800 973272 from Northern Ireland and the UK.