Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 June 2024
159. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education the reason advertisements are being broadcast on radio encouraging survivors of industrial schools to ring an organisation (details supplied), and on doing so, no support is provided given the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024 has not been passed; if he will correct this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27737/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, in June 2023 Government approved the delivery of a package of ongoing supports to survivors of abuse in residential institutions, including supports relating to health, education and advocacy. The development of this package of supports was informed by a consultation process with survivors and survivor groups, including a survivor-led Consultative Forum.
The report of the Consultative Forum noted the difficulties many survivors experience in engaging with and accessing public services, and identified a clear need for information, support and advocacy services for survivors to assist them in engaging with and accessing relevant existing services and supports.
In November 2023 the Department entered into a grant funding arrangement with Sage Advocacy, an independent advocacy organisation with a strong track record in providing advocacy supports to vulnerable adults, older people and healthcare patients, to develop such a service for survivors. Sage has recruited a number of staff to deliver this service, including Regional Advocates who are based around the country. These Regional Advocates are already engaging directly with relevant service providers on behalf of individual survivors, in areas such as social protection, housing and health.
Sage Advocacy is currently implementing an outreach and communications plan to raise awareness of the availability of the service. As well as engaging directly with survivors, survivor groups and other relevant stakeholders, this includes radio advertising.
In addition to supporting survivors and advocating on their behalf to ensure access to existing services, Sage Advocacy will also inform survivors of the additional supports to be provided under the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024, subject to enactment of the legislation, and support them in accessing those services.
