In May 2019, the Facing the Future Together conference was organised by the Christine Buckley Centre to mark the 20th anniversary of the State apology to survivors and the ten-year anniversary of the publication of the Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse - the Ryan report. The primary focus of the conference was on persons who had suffered abuse as children in industrial and reformatory schools and other residential institutions which cared for children. In addition to the conference acting as a commemoration, the organisers utilised the opportunity to highlight and advocate for supports for survivors.
The Facing the Future Together report is a snapshot of the presentations delivered as part of the conference by a number of advocates and experts. The report clearly identifies the lasting impact of abuse on many survivors of institutional abuse. It puts forward five key requests for all survivors of institutional abuse: enhanced medical cards and housing supports, easily accessible counselling services for survivors, the provision of advocacy support for survivors in the long term, trauma-informed medical and public service staff and the identification of supports needed by survivors based outside Ireland. I note that these areas broadly mirror the recommendations of the collaborative forum on mother and baby homes, as published in April 2019, and both pieces of work will inform the State's response to the final report of the commission of investigation once published.
It is important to clarify that these issues of concern to former residents of institutions relate to the policy and services provided by a number of Departments, most notably those of the Minister for Health, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Minister for Foreign Affairs. It is clear to me that we need to address these issues through a holistic approach.
The Department of Education has established an interdepartmental working group, on which my Department is represented, specifically to examine the future needs of former residents in the context of the anticipated closure of Caranua. The Department of Education is circulating the Facing the Future Together report to all the Departments involved in this working group. I understand the group is due to complete its important work shortly and my Department will fully engage with any of the recommendations which fall within my area of responsibility.
