Survivors of childhood institutional abuse claim they have been further abused, cut off, and left waiting for months by the body that was set up to serve their needs.

That body is called Caranua, an independent entity established under the 2012 Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act. It manages the €110 million fund made available to provide assistance for the education, health and housing of victims of abuse.

But some of those victims, who called Liveline this afternoon , were extremely unhappy with their experiences of Caranua, and they shared those experiences with presenter, Joe Duffy. This is what David Dineen, from Cork, had to say.

"They are met by 'think of other people, you're after getting enough'. And that's abuse, expecting us to take on board other people.”

David told Joe that the fund has failed in its core duties to provide assistance to victims of abuse, and has, instead, put tge burden of cost back on the victims of abuse. After becoming seriously ill in 2014, he applied to Caranua to pay for an urgent brain scan. They refused, saying that he had reached his limit with costs for physiotherapy, counselling and dental work. His further request for assistance to pay for a wheelchair and housing were also refused. He eventually became homeless, and claims that those who contact Caranua are told to think of others.

Caranua Chief Executive Mary Higgins joined Joe to address the concerns and clarify why each applicant is entitled to only €15,000 worth of services, a limit that was introduced in June 2016. She said the body is working with a limited budget to assist some 6,000 people seeking help.

But the process of arriving at that figure was, in itself, problematic, according to Joe. If it was decided by dividing the amount left in the fund by the number of applicants, it suggested that the amount was not based on need, but on maths. Essentially, said Joe:

"It was based on long division rather than the welfare of those people."

When asked if she should request more money from the religious institutions, Mary responded by saying that is not her role. She also said the experience of those speaking on the show was not representative of most cases.

"The majority of people are satisfied with the services they have received. The people you have speaking have a point and their point is valid but they are not representative."

In response, David suggested that focusing on money was not the point.

"The problem is we have no representative body to speak for survivors and it's conquer and divide. For you to put in the idea of money is perpetuating that myth that it's about money…We're more than money, we're humans."

To listen back to the full exchange, click here.