Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 December 2014
318. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the helpline set up to deal with mother and baby home queries is still operational; the number of calls the helpline has received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48779/14]
View answerThe telephone Information line available for people seeking information or details of support available to those affected by issues relating to Mother and Baby Homes remains operational. Those seeking such information may telephone the HSE National Information Line; Low Call Telephone 1850 24 1850 during Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm. The HSE National Counselling Service is also available to assist those affected and callers to the HSE National Information line will be connected to a local service. The service provides professional, confidential counselling and psychotherapy service free of charge in all regions of the Health Service Executive for adults who have experienced trauma and abuse in childhood with priority given to adult survivors of institutional abuse in Ireland.
I am advised by the administrators of the Information line that it has received a number of contacts related to Mother and Baby Homes, including some callers already know to the services, since these arrangements were initially announced on the 18th June. I will arrange for the HSE to provide the Deputy with exact figures directly once collated.
Those affected can also directly contact the CONNECT free telephone out of hours professional counselling and support service where they can talk in confidence with a trained counsellor. CONNECT is an out of hours service available from 6-10 pm from Wednesday to Sunday. The CONNECT out of hours service is contactable at Freephone 1800 477 477 from the Republic of Ireland and 00800 477 477 77 from Northern Ireland and the UK.
These Helpline contact details have been published on the Department of Children & Youth Affairs website (www.dcya.gov.ie). The arrangements have also been included in a number of statements made in the Houses by my predecessor and media updates issued through my Department’s press office and HSE communications offices.
