Minister Foley secures cabinet approval for text of Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill

Minister for Education Norma Foley TD has today (Tuesday) secured cabinet approval for the text of the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill.

The Bill provides for a package of ongoing supports to survivors of abuse in residential institutions in areas including health, advocacy and education and follows a process of consultation with survivors and survivor groups over a number of years, including a survivor-led, independently facilitated Consultative Forum.

Minister Foley said: "The whole of government is acutely conscious of the enormous trauma which has been endured by all survivors of abuse, including those in residential institutions. It is vital that survivors know that government is responding strongly. Today, Cabinet has approved the legislation which will enable the introduction of a new package of ongoing supports in areas including health and education, including access to 'enhanced medical cards' and grants to assist with engaging in further or higher education."

The enhanced package of health supports and services to survivors of institutional abuse in the bill includes an "enhanced medical card". This is the same package of supports which is provided to survivors of the Magdalen Laundries under the Magdalen Laundry scheme and which will be provided to former residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions under the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme.

Survivors living abroad will be able to avail of a payment of €3,000 in lieu of the enhanced medical card to support their health needs. This is the same approach taken in respect of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme.

The bill also provides for grants for survivors to assist them in engaging in further or higher education. These payments will be additional to any SUSI grants that survivors may be entitled to and the scheme will also ensure that survivors are not required to pay the Student Contribution Charge where this would otherwise apply.

The delivery of these health and education supports will require the passage of the new Bill and this is being progressed as a priority, with a view to rolling out these supports from the second half of this year.

The response to this issue has, to date, involved expenditure of approximately €1.5 billion, including redress payments and other supports for survivors, through the Residential Institutions Redress Board (the RIRB), the Education Finance Board and the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board, more commonly referred to as Caranua. Caranua, provided €98 million in funding supports to approx. 6,000 survivors. Its fund, which was provided by the relevant congregations following the publication of the Ryan Report in 2009, has been exhausted and as part of this move to a new phase of ongoing supports, Caranua is now being wound down.

The Department of Education has been engaged in a process of consultation with survivors and survivor groups over a number of years, including a survivor-led, independently facilitated Consultative Forum.

Minister Foley met with survivors through the Consultative Forum in February to listen to their views on the general scheme of the bill and to thank them for their engagement, commitment and the insights and experiences they shared in participating in its work.

The Forum's report highlighted the challenges survivors face in navigating access to public services. Furthermore, it identified a pressing need for signposting and advocacy to facilitate ready access to all relevant services. In response to this need, the Department engaged an independent advocacy organisation, Sage Advocacy, to develop information, support and advocacy services to assist individual survivors in engaging with and accessing relevant services and supports. The work to roll out this service is already under way and Sage Advocacy is engaging with relevant groups and organisations to promote awareness of its availability.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Contact Details for Sage Advocacy

• Web: https://sageadvocacy.ie/

• Email: [email protected]

• Phone: 01-5367330