Late Applications to the Redress Board

The board has extended the time limit to submit late applications to the 16th of September 2011.  

The Redress Board was set up under the Residential Institutions Redress Act, 2002 to make fair and reasonable awards to persons who, as children, were abused while resident in industrial schools, reformatories and other institutions subject to state regulation or inspection. The Board, which is wholly independent, is chaired by Sean O'Leary, SC, a retired Circuit Court Judge. All applications for redress are treated in the strictest confidence, and all hearings conducted by the Board are in private.

In bringing a late application for redress there are a number of questions which an applicant should consider in order to meet the requirements of the Board.

When did you first learn of the existence of the Residential Institutions Redress Board? Who advised you of the existence of the Residential Institutions Redress Board? When did you become aware that you were entitled to file a Late Application with the Residential Institutions Redress Board? The Redress Board carried out an extensive advertising campaign between the period December 2002 and December 2005 The Redress Board held twelve information dates throughout England in 2004 as well as placing advertisements in Sunday Newspapers, Daily Newspapers and publications aimed specifically at the Irish Community in the United Kingdom. Did you attend any or these or were you aware of them? In addition the Redress Board arrange for the distribution of seven and a half thousand leaflets to the Network of Irish Societies. The Redress Board also placed advertisements in selected Newspapers in the United Kingdom highlighting each Ministerial Order which added to the Institutions listed in the Schedule of the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002. It also placed advertisements in selected United Kingdom Publications advising Applicants of the closing date for receipt of Applications being the 15th of December 2005. Did you read any of these? Did you observe any of the advertisements placed by the Redress Board ? Have you any involvement with the Irish Community in your country of resident and in particular if you are affiliated to any of the Irish Clubs and/or Societies? Have you any extended family currently living in Ireland and if so whether you are in regular and/or ongoing contact with them? What contact which you have with any extended family living in Ireland between the period of December 2002 to date? Have you returned to Ireland on a regular basis and if so how often you may have returned to Ireland between the period December 2002 - 2005? Have you made any return since December 2005 to date? In the event that you did return to Ireland during the period of December 2002 - 2005 how often you returned and the duration of your stay on each return visit? Why did you not file a Late Application with the Board on or before the 15th of December 2005 and what exceptional circumstances prevented you from making an Application on or before that date? Why you have not filed a Late Application with the Board since December 2005 to date and what if any are the exceptional circumstances which exist in respect of you filing an Application at this time? These are the issues any late application must address. Applications must be made on affidavit & for that reason we suggest you consult a solicitor with expertise in this area. Other factors such as literacy difficulties, illnesses and remoteness of the applicant from Ireland can also be bourne in mind.