The following is the text of the Conference of Religious of Ireland's statement:
Religious congregations today, January 30th, announced that they are to make a substantial contribution to the State Redress Scheme for people who, as children, suffered in residential institutions.
The congregations' contribution will offer educational support, counselling and financial assistance to former residents through the scheme.
The announcement was made in Dublin by the Conference of Religious of Ireland (CORI).
"We accept that some children in residential institutions managed by our members suffered deprivation, physical and sexual abuse," said Sister Elizabeth Maxwell, secretary general of CORI, at the press briefing in CORI's offices.
"We regret that. We apologise for it. We can never take away the pain experienced at the time by those children, nor the shadow left over their adult lives. Today, the congregations, with the State, are giving a concrete expression of their genuine desire to foster healing and reconciliation in the lives of former residents."
The congregations have been in discussion with the Government since November 2000. Today's initiative involves a package amounting to €128 million, comprised of:
•A cash payment of €38 million, of which €12.7 million will be placed in an education trust for former residents of the institutions and their families.
•Property transfers totalling €80 million. This amount will include property transfers to the State and voluntary sector which have been made since the Taoiseach apologised in May 1999 to victims of institutional child abuse; with further transfers up to the total amount taking place within the next 3 to 5 years.
•€10 million in counselling, pastoral services for people in need and record retrieval facilities, some of which has already been spent on these services.
The congregations stressed today that the significant contribution being made to the Redress Scheme is part of a further step in a process of acknowledgement, apology and recompense.
"The Redress Scheme gives priority to the needs of claimants, while not taking away their right to take legal action instead," said Sister Elizabeth Maxwell.
"The investigation and determination of specific allegations of abuse are being dealt with by the Laffoy Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse. The congregations are firmly committed to the ongoing work of the commission."
The Faoiseamh Helpline, and associated counselling services, established by CORI, will continue, as will the commitment of all congregations involved to help and support former residents. The commitment to provide former residents access to their personal records will also continue.
"We now know the vulnerability of children to sexual abuse and the terrible consequences of failure to hear the voices of those children. We do not now, nor will we ever, seek to minimise or gloss over what has happened. We also believe that, notwithstanding poor resources, many residents received good care from dedicated and caring religious and lay staff. We hope that our significant contribution to the Redress Scheme will make a difference to some of the adults whose early lives were spent in these institutions - and open up the possibility of healing and reconciliation with people who have grievances against us," concluded Sister Elizabeth.