Government accused of 'ignoring' survivors of residential institutions

Earlier this month, Minister for Education Norma Foley secured Cabinet approval for the text of the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill. File Picture

The Government has been accused of "ignoring" survivors of residential institutions, with just four of 29 recommendations on redress adopted.

Campaigners say a bill that is due to be progressed in the Dáil this week must be stopped as it does not support survivors in its current format.

“The Government is using this bill to masquerade the fact that it is ignoring the views of survivors once again. The Government repeatedly consults survivors and then ignores them," said survivor Tom Cronin, a member of the Consultative Forum.

Earlier this month, Minister for Education Norma Foley secured Cabinet approval for the text of the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill, which provides for a package of ongoing supports to survivors of abuse in residential institutions in areas including health, advocacy and education.

It followed a process of consultation with survivors and survivor groups over a number of years, including a survivor-led, independently facilitated Consultative Forum.

Tom Cronin, pictured at the old brick sandstone which reminds him of St. Joseph's industrial school, Greenmount, Cork. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

However, campaigners say that the a health care package outlined in the Bill is "little more" than what is already available under the medical card system. They say the legislation should provide all survivors with a Health Amendment Act (HAA) card rather than the proposed enhanced medical card.

The proposed €3,000 once-off payment for former residents living overseas, has also been criticised as "insufficient".

Instead financial support should be index linked to the cost of living and provide additional payments to survivors who have complex health needs, campaigners said, and agreement must be sought with UK that they disregard should payments if applicants are in receipt of means tested benefits.

Survivors say that given the unpaid forced labour and lack of education resulting in loss of opportunity together with the abuse suffered, resulting in physical and psychological trauma, there must be a provision for regular payments to be made to survivors from the age of 65.

Mary Donovan, who is also a member of the Consultative Forum said: “We ask the Government to put in place meaningful services for survivors that were outlined in the Final Summary Report June 2021. Failing that, this Bill should be stopped from progressing to the next stage, as without substantial changes it will do nothing more than to close the door on Survivors who need help.”