ALMOST ALL RELIGIOUS orders in Ireland have millions of Euros in both cash and assets, but the majority haven’t offered redress to survivors of mother and baby homes. 

Out of the eight religious bodies with historical involvement in mother and baby institutions, only two have offered financial contributions to the survivor compensation scheme.

This is despite the eight religious organisations having combined net assets of €1.32 billion and huge cash deposits in the bank of €86 million.

A report published by the Government this week, conducted by negotiator Sheila Nunan and published today by Minister for Children Norma Foley, sets out clearly how it reached the final figure that religious orders should pay.

From the financial breakdowns, which were correlated in a report by financial consultants EY on the assets and cash each institution has, it is clear that the proposed contribution amounts could  easily be covered by some with the cash they have on their books, while others would have to liquidate some assets (most likely property) to get the money.

The majority of groups have more than enough assets to do this. 

So, what assets and cash do each order have? 

(The above is a table of combined organisations contained in the report, which The Journal has collated)

It is worth noting that a number of orders did not cooperate with EY in their work of gathering financial data, making the work the consultants work more difficult. 

In the case of religious organisations that declined to participate in the financial assessment exercise, EY utilised publicly available information. 

From the financial breakdown and the monies sought, it is also worth noting that some of the smaller organisations wouldn’t have enough money to cover the proposed amounts if they gave all their cash and other assets over.

Here’s what each religious order has offered, to date: 

(The figures are set out above and detail the number of survivors and residents that came under each religious order and how much has been offered to date and the religious orders that have made zero contributions.)

The religious organisations which have made no financial contributions are: 

• The Sisters of Mercy 
• The Legion of Mary 
• The Church of Ireland 
• Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd
• Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary

The methodology used to value the contribution demanded was based on the principle of shared responsibility between the State and religious organisations, the legacy of the Mother and Baby Institutions and a fair and equitable distribution across relevant religious organisations, the report stated. 

Figures were used from the Commission of Investigation Report in respect of the total number of former residents of each institution, rather than the number of former residents expected to apply to the Payment Scheme.

For instance, over 36% of all residents that come under the scheme fall under the umbrella of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, yet zero contribution has been made by that order.

So, what was asked of them?

• The Congregation of Lady of the Good Shepherd was asked for €10.46 million; with assets of €75.8m and more than €2.4m in the bank.
• The Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary was asked for €96.5m with assets worth €5.8m and €200,000 in the bank, with an associated UK charity having €32.4m in assets and €1.75m in cash.
• The Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy was asked for €21m, with roughly €320m in assets and approximately €24m in cash.
• The Legion of Mary was asked for €26.2m and has €1.8m in assets and and €1.5m in cash.
• The Church of Ireland was asked for almost €14m. It has €632m in assets and €40m in cash.

Previously, The Journal has reported that when it comes to other historical abuse redress schemes, religious orders only paid 16% of redress costs. 

Compelling orders to pay up 

Children’s Minister Norma Foley noted in the report that it had been a “challenging process” as it was a voluntary process whereby the negotiator could not compel bodies to produce information or offer contributions.  

“To that end, I will ask my officials to liaise with the Office of the Attorney General to consider if any further options are available to the State in this regard,” she said. 

As reported by The Journal, it is understood the government is exploring all avenues to ensure the religious orders pay their fair share, as set out, and this includes legal action. 

Previously, Labour leader Ivana Bacik has said the government must learn from the past in terms of orders not paying their fair share, resulting in the State having to foot the full costs.

Last year, Tánaiste Simon Harris said the government would pursue legislation to make sure religious orders do not “get off the hook” in terms of redress owed for historical abuse.  

“I’ve specifically asked the Attorney General to draft legal advice for Government about what mechanisms we can deploy or indeed legislation to introduce to make sure that those institutions do have to contribute.

“Let me be really clear: My first approach is we should ask people to do the right thing. That’s not to suggest that we’re naive and presume they want to do the right thing. If they don’t do the right thing, we need to legislate to make sure that they do,” he said. 

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Harris confirmed that had also asked the Attorney General to review legislation put forward by Labour leader Ivana Bacik on the issue. 

When asked this week about the matter, a spokesperson for the Tánaiste said: “The Tánaiste’s position on this matter has not changed.”

Harris said last year, that in in the past, religious orders have gotten away with not paying.

“They’re not going to this time,” he said. 

Harris said he believed options to pursue payments from religious orders will most likely require legislation.

Orders that have contributed to mother and baby home redress

While the majority of orders have decided to not pay up despite having millions on their books, the orders that have made offers include the Sisters of Bon Secours, which ran the Children’s Home in Tuam, which offered a cash contribution of €12.97m.

Foley said this is in line with what negotiators determined to be a “meaningful contribution”, and which the State has accepted.

An estimated 802 children died inside the Tuam home during its 36 years in operation.

The Sisters of St John of God offered a conditional donation of €75,000 to be used as a charitable donation towards a charitable purpose associated with mother and baby home survivors.

The group oversaw St Columba’s County Home in Co Kilkenny, where 140 infants died between 1922 and 1960.

A third body, the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul, offered a contribution of a building, which the government is considering accepting.

Two mother and baby homes, Pelletstown and the Belmont Flatlets, were run by the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul.