Updated, 15:42

The overall cost of the redress scheme for child abuse victims is set to exceed one-and-a-half BILLION euro.

But it's emerged that the state is picking up the lions' share of the costs, with religious groups funding only 13% of the total costs.

While it is government policy to seek a 50-50 split of the costs with the religious groups, their liability is legally capped at €128 million under a deal signed in 2002.

The report from the state's spending watchdog, the Comptroller & Auditor General, says only €107 million of this had actually been received by the end of 2015.

The groups offered another €353 million of cash and properties in 2009, following the release of the Ryan Report on clerical sex abuse.

However only €85 million of this had been delivered by the end of 2015.

Not all of the €353 million offered in 2009 remains under offer; in 2015 the Christian Brothers withdrew an offer to give the State a 50-50 ownership share of school playing pitches worth €129 million. 

If the government were to pursue its 50-50 policy, it would be seeking to recoup €529 million in costs which have yet to be repaid.

The C&AG had suggested a full evaluation of the redress scheme, to see what lessons might be learned about managing costs of similar issues in future.

The scheme had only been expected to cost €250 million when designed in 2002.

Note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly claimed that the religious institutions had agreed to a 50-50 split in the entire costs of covering the scheme.