Thousands of people who claim to have suffered sexual or physical abuse while in industrial schools or other institutions can begin to seek compensation from the State today.
A Government source said he anticipated that between 6,000 and 8,000 people might apply to the scheme, which will be administered by the Residential Institutions Redress Board.
The board, which has run adverts in national newspapers over the past two days, says the scheme is "designed to provide an informal method of obtaining compensation for injury suffered by those who were abused while in a residential institution".
The Department of Education has estimated the scheme may cost as much as €400 million. Religious orders will contribute €128 million to the final cost of the scheme.
The Government has also agreed to indemnify the religious orders directly concerned against all present and future claims arising from past child abuse and which are covered by the Residential Institutions Redress Act, 2002.
Those who accept awards from the board must agree in writing to give up any right to bring a claim for damages in the courts in respect of the abuse in question.
However, the deal covers only religious congregatons, such as the Christian Brothers. It does not cover those abused by Catholic priests, who are accountable to the Catholic bishops.
Judge Kieran O'Connor, chairman of the Redress Board, said last week that as well as covering sexual and physical abuse, "it [the board] will also provide compensation for emotional abuse and for neglect.
"The scheme also provides for payment of the legal costs of those claiming the compensation," he said. "All the proceedings of the Board will be in the strictest confidence".
The board has its headquarters in Dublin and can be contacted on 01-2680029, by Freephone 1800-200086 or by visiting the board's website at www.rirb.ie.
