Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 April 2026
97. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the timeline for when the survivors of industrial school abuse and the hunger strikers will receive the supports offered to them after their protest; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28851/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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 legislation required to deliver ongoing health and education supports to survivors, the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Act 2025, was passed by the Oireachtas last year. 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. Relevant information is being shared with the HSE to enable the provision of specific medical cards to eligible survivors who have applied for those supports. In addition, applications for education support payments and health supports payments under the Act are also being processed and my Department has begun to issue to those payments.
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.
Similarly, on funeral costs, Community Welfare Officers have been requested to give particular consideration to survivors.
