255 Ms M. McGennis asked the Minister for Education and Science if groups (details supplied) will be eligible to apply to the Redress Board under the Residential Institutions Redress Bill to compensate victims of Irish institutional child abuse; and if the Redress Board will sit in the United Kingdom to facilitate those who have never returned to Ireland and who would find it traumatic to return. [23348/01]

Debate on the Residential Institutions Redress Bill, 2001, is scheduled to commence in this House later this month. It is my intention, as soon as it has been debated on Second Stage, that it will proceed to Committee Stage with a view to its enactment and implementation by the end of the year. My Department has received a number of submissions, both oral and written, from interested people concerning the content of the Bill and the amendments which they consider should be made. This process of consultation is ongoing and I am not at present in a position to state what amendments will be made. I am, however, open to making amendments to the Bill which will enhance it or remove unnecessary restrictions.