Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy – Response to the Ryan Report

We the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy, in recognition of the pain experienced by former residents of our institutions and in a spirit of reconciliation continue to use every resource at our disposal to implement and deliver upon the voluntary contribution which we issued in 2009.

In December 2009, in response to the publication of the Ryan Report, and with heartfelt sorrow, the Congregation issued its Contribution Document containing details of a voluntary contribution which would be made. This contribution was made by the Congregation alone. It was not made in combination with other congregations.

The voluntary contribution consisted of the following:

• Cash amounting to €20 million;
• The transfer of properties to the voluntary sector;
• The sale of properties on the open market and the donation of the proceeds to a Statutory Fund to be established by the State for former residents; and 
• The transfer of properties to the State
  

The progress to date in implementing this voluntary contribution is summarised as follows:

• The sum of €20 million in cash offered in 2009 was punctually paid. Moreover, because the Statutory Fund for former residents had yet to be established, the Congregation, as a voluntary gesture, placed the sums which had been offered on deposit pending such establishment. It then donated to the Statutory Fund the accrued interest of €930,993.75.

• The Congregation committed to transfer 16 properties to the voluntary sector with a combined estimated value in December 2009 of €15,060,000. 14 of these properties, with a December 2009 estimated value of €14,960,000, have been transferred. One of the properties has been declined by the intended recipient. The transfer of the last property requires agreement with the State.

• The Congregation also committed to sell 17 properties on the open market and to donate the proceeds of sale to the Statutory Fund.  15 of these property transfers are complete and the sales proceeds of €5,390,692.30 have been donated to the Statutory Fund.

• The Congregation committed to transfer to the State 17 properties with a December 2009 estimated value of €80,856,800. As of this date, 13 of these transfers are complete with a December 2009 estimated value of €21,856,800. All of the remaining properties are ready for transfer by the Congregation, and require agreements with the State.

The Congregation is continuing to do all in its power to complete the outstanding property transactions that arise under the Contribution Document.

May 2019