Religious orders in Ireland have been told to pay an additional €200 million ($286.58 million) towards compensation costs for victims of child abuse or else sign over religious run schools to the government.

The overall compensation bill for victims of abuse amounts to €1.3 billion ($1.86 billion) according to the Irish Examiner.

The Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn has said he is disappointed with their contribution so far.

So far religious orders have offered land and cash with a combined value of €348 million ($498 million) on top of the €128 million ($183 million) they paid in 2002 as a result if an indemnity bill.

The orders have committed to giving another €100 million ($143 million) in cash but only €20.6 million ($20.6 million) has been handed over so far.

The Minister warned that if the congregations could not produce the cash for the shortfall, they should sign over legal ownership to school buildings to the state.

"There is a very big gap between the €680 million ($974 million) which would be their fair share and what is on the table at the present time," he said.

The Irish Examiner revealed that a total of 18 orders named in the damning Ryan Report on clerical child abuse have benefited from property deals worth €667 million ($956 million) between 1999 and 2009.

The Minister questioned why the financial profits from the land sales were not available to go towards the remaining balance.
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