(Valerie Robinson, Irish News)

The Irish government last night announced the appointment of a commission to administer the remembrance fund being established to aid victims of the Troubles in the Republic.

The new body will be responsible for the administration of the remembrance fund for three years from the date of its commencement. The Irish government has already approved expenditure of €9 million during the lifetime of the commission.

The commission will assess and process applications from individuals for financial assistance from the special fund.

The commission will have the power to:

• allocate payments of up to €15,000 to bereaved families of people killed in the Republic or resident in the state at the time of their death
• give lump sums not exceeding €15,000 to spouses and dependent children of victims
• allocate funds to cover medical expenses in some circumstances
• provide relocation payments of up to €15,000 to bereaved families or individuals injured who were forced to move as a consequence of the Northern Ireland conflict
• allocate grant funding to the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund.

This article appeared first in the October 30, 2003 edition of the Irish News.

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