The Catholic bishops tried to persuade the State to extend its redress scheme for children abused in residential institutions to include those abused in "ordinary" schools.
In June 1999 the bishops set up a Committee on Child Abuse "to ensure a comprehensive and co- operative approach to the work of the Government Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse".
In 1999 also they concluded a deal with the Church & General insurance company under which they accumulated a €10.6 million fund to meet claims by people subjected to clerical sex abuse before 1996.
Between 1987 and 1990, 24 of the 26 Catholic dioceses on the island took out insurance against child sex abuse claims. In 1995 the insurance company sought to renegotiate the deal. In 1996 it paid over £3.4 million (€4.3 million) to the bishops as a buy-out. In 1999 the bishops returned. The company paid another £5 million (€6.3 million) to pre-1996 claims.
According to Freedom of Information documents obtained by The Irish Times, the bishops contacted officials about the proposed redress scheme. This was discussed in the Department of Education and Science on February 1st, 2001 (CORI had entered negotiations with the State in November 2000).
Mr John Dennehy, secretary general of the Department said: "The bishops have been on to the Department inquiring about progress. It seems CORI are not liaising with the bishops. The bishops want a wider scheme than what is proposed.
"It had been suggested that the scheme might be extended, e.g. to cover claims by altar boys against the clergy. It was agreed that this was out of the question."
On May 23rd, 2001, Bishop Éamon Walsh, chairman of the Bishops Committee on Child Abuse, sought a meeting with the Taoiseach. He said the committee believed "there should be equality of treatment for all victims of abuse".
A draft reply, prepared by Mr Fergal Costello of the Department of Education and Science for the Taoiseach's private secretary, Mr Brendan Ward, explained that the State had "a special legal and moral responsibility" for children in residential institutions.
"A similar responsibility did not apply in the case of children who continued to live in their homes and community." On June 8th, 2001, Mr Tom Boland of the Department of Education met Bishop Walsh and Sister Eileen Randles of the Catholic Primary Schools Managers Association, who said the bishops believed that "by not including (or as they see it excluding) people who suffered abuse in ordinary schools, the Government is setting up a scheme which is unfair and inequitable".
On June 26th, 2001, the congregations made their "only and final offer" of £45 million to the redress scheme. It was rejected.
Writing to Bishop Walsh on July 6th, 2001, Mr Brendan Ward said the Taoiseach thought it best that redress discussions should take place with the Department of Education and Science in the first instance.
A memo of the same date from Ms Alison Keogh of the Taoiseach's Department "there are no reasons why the Taoiseach should meet with the bishops at this time . . ." It is marked "seen by Taoiseach".
A spokeswoman for the Department told The Irish Times that, where abuse claims involving "ordinary" schools were concerned, responsibility lay with the board of management.
