Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 April 2026
715. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health when the Government will set up the patient liaison service (health supports) for survivors of institutional abuse as committed to in the Department of Children, Disability and Equality Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby County Home Institutions Third Implementation Report (details supplied). [28582/26]
View answerIn 2019 the recommendations of the Collaborative Forum of Former Residents of Mother and Baby Homes were published. Recommendations covered many areas including health and wellbeing.
Following Government consideration of the recommendations in this report, it was agreed that the Department of Health would develop proposals for a package of health and well-being supports for former residents, including enhanced counselling supports and a Patient Advocacy and Liaison Support service.
The objective of this work was to ensure that former resident’s mental health and their need for psychological supports is prioritised, and that they would have a dedicated contact point and support for signposting to necessary health services.
With regard to enhanced counselling supports, the HSE’s National Counselling Service (NCS) was resourced to recruit additional Counsellor and Senior Counsellor posts, and began providing counselling for Former Residents of Mother and Baby Homes in late 2020.
Up to April 2026, the NCS has received 720 referrals for former residents. There is no waiting time for the service as these clients are prioritised for allocation to counselling, with referrals offered the next available counselling space.
The highest number of referrals were received in 2021, the year that the Mother and Baby Home Commission published its report, with subsequent media coverage encouraging this significant uptake of counselling.
The table below provides a summary of referrals since 2020.
|
Year |
Referrals to NCS (MBH) |
|
2020 |
27 |
|
2021 |
220 |
|
2022 |
89 |
|
2023 |
124 |
|
2024 |
141 |
|
2025 |
99 |
|
2026 |
20 (Jan-Mar) |
|
Total |
720 |
In addition to the enhanced counselling provision the HSE also planned to add a Patient Advocacy Service for Survivors (PALS) to the existing Mother and Baby Home Helpline to provide bespoke information and support to survivors and former residents, on a confidential basis, to assist them in accessing health services which they may need through a dedicated team. This action was delayed due to the HSE cyber-attack, however the HSE did work to develop a bespoke information line for MBH former residents within its HSE Live service as an alternative.
HSE Live began providing the bespoke information line to MBH survivors in March 2024, through a dedicated team of call takers within HSE Live. This is an information and signposting service, providing information and support to survivors to assist them in accessing health services.
The team manage all queries related to the Mother and Baby Homes Report and assist callers with information on available health supports and access the National Counselling Service/Connect Counselling (out of hours service) supports as needed. The HSE Live service also support callers with accessing the enhanced medical card for survivors, as well as information on the redress scheme.
The HSE use existing communications channels to support awareness of this service, including online information, social media, HSE Press Office, Internal Communications and a Partner Pack.
Up to February 2025, there had been 161 calls to the HSE Live bespoke information service to MBH survivors. Most calls were related to the redress scheme, and included the following queries:
• Redress scheme – Follow up on application process
• Enhanced medical card – what does it cover
• Access to personal information
My Department has a clearer indication of the mental health service and support needs of this vulnerable group than in 2019 when the report was initially published, and these needs are being substantially met through the counselling service and the HSE Live service, which is receiving a lower volume of queries than initially predicted.
My officials continue to monitor the engagement with the HSE Live service in terms of the volume and nature of the queries, and the provision of enhanced counselling supports to former residents of Mother and Baby homes. The Department and HSE will continue to work with survivors, their representatives and the Special Advocate to identify and meet their evolving needs into the future.
