Residential Institutions Redress Scheme Eligibility

Wednesday, 15 November 2017

Questions (122)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

122. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) has never received compensation after years of attending Letterfrack, County Galway industrial school. [48404/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The legacy of abuse against children and young people, whether in residential institutions, in day schools, or in any other setting, is appalling. It is impossible to even imagine what some of these people have gone through. There is a National Counselling Service, run by the Health Service Executive which provides counseling services to those who have been abused in childhood, with priority given to those abused in residential institutional care. Perhaps, this service may be of assistance.

While there was a redress scheme in place for people who had suffered abuse in a number of scheduled institutions, it is no longer open to new applicants. The Residential Institutions Redress Amendment Act, 2011 removed the Board's power to accept late applications received on or after the 17th September 2011.