I propose to take Questions Nos. 297, 298, 299, 300 and 301 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, Government has approved the delivery of a package of ongoing supports to survivors of abuse in residential institutions such as industrial schools and reformatories. This package of supports builds upon the already significant response to this issue to date, which included the Residential Institutions Redress Scheme, the funding supports disbursed by Caranua and other initiatives.
The package of supports, which were initially approved by Government in June 2023, is comprised of a number of elements, including health, education and advocacy supports.
My Department entered into a grant-funding arrangement with Sage Advocacy in November 2023 to ensure the delivery of advocacy supports to survivors. Sage has appointed regional advocates around the country to support survivors in their engagement with relevant service providers. Survivors can contact Sage Advocacy via its website, www.sageadvocacy.ie, or by phone at 01 536 7330.
The legislation required to deliver the health and education supports, the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Act 2025, was passed by the Oireachtas last July. In January of this year, following the conclusion of a mediation process, Government approved the strengthening of these supports, as well as a number of other initiatives.
My Department published information on the supports to be provided and opened to applications for the health and education supports, on Friday 6 March. This information can be found at www.gov.ie/survivorsupports.
With regard to the health supports, my Department is sharing relevant information with the HSE to enable the provision of specific medical cards to eligible survivors who have applied for those supports. It is expected that the HSE will begin issuing the cards in the coming weeks.
In addition to providing an entitlement to the same services as a standard medical card, the medical card for survivors is a life-long, non-means tested card. Holders of the card will not be required to pay prescription charges, and they will have improved access to counselling and physiotherapy services. The HSE will also appoint dedicated health liaison officers for survivors.
Applications for the education support payments and health supports payments under the Act are processed by my Department and those payments are being issued to applicants.
Separately, arising from the mediation process, the Minister for Housing has written to local authorities and requested that they give priority to survivors of abuse in residential institutions. Relevant survivors should engage with their local authorities as appropriate.
Similarly, on funeral costs, Community Welfare Officers have been requested to give particular consideration to survivors and related applications should be made to relevant Community Welfare Offices.
