The government says it expects the final bill for abuse at residential institutions to reach almost €1.5 billion.

Accounts for the Residential Institutions Redress Board, given to Ministers today, project a final bill of €1.46 billion.

The bill is being split equally between the State and the 18 congregations who ran the institutions where abuse took place.

However the institutions have contributed less than €200 million so far. The average payout to victims is €62,860.

This leaves the taxpayer on the hook for over €500 million in damages and costs.