Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 January 2024
291. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education further to a formal announcement made by her in mid-2023 (details supplied), to outline the health, education, and advocacy supports and services currently available to survivors of institutional abuse after the winding down of the Caranua agency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2704/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, on 27 June 2023 Government approved proposals for the provision of a package of ongoing supports to survivors and for the dissolution of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board (“Caranua”). The package of supports is comprised of a number of elements, including health, education, and advocacy supports.
The delivery of both the health and education supports will require the passage of the legislation, the General Scheme of which was published and referred to the relevant Committee for Pre-Legislative Scrutiny (PLS) in September 2023. The Committee’s PLS Report was received by my Department in December 2023.
My Department is also working closely with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel on the drafting of the Bill which has been included as a Priority for Publication in the Government’s Spring Legislation Programme. It is intended to progress the preparation of the legislation as quickly as possible to enable its passage in the first half of 2024.
With regard to advocacy supports, my Department has engaged Sage Advocacy, an independent advocacy organisation with a strong track record in providing advocacy supports to vulnerable adults, older people and healthcare patients, to develop information, support and advocacy services for survivors to assist them in engaging with and accessing relevant services and supports. Sage Advocacy has already begun to roll out this service and will be engaging with relevant groups and organisations to promote awareness of its availability.
