Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

With the Chair's indulgence, I welcome my sister Kay Lynch from Bantry and Geraldine O'Donovan from Ovens to the Gallery today.

We are here to shed light on a distressing reality that many survivors of institutional abuse are currently grappling with. These individuals who have already endured so much are now facing long waits, often exceeding a year, to access crucial counselling services. This situation has been exacerbated by the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic leading to a significant regression in their mental health. Some steps have been taken to address this issue by the introduction of the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill.

While this Bill is a step in the right direction, it falls short of what is truly needed. It promises care and medical coverage but, in reality, these promises often translate into a long waiting list. This is as much a reflection of the dysfunction within our health service as it is a failing of the Bill itself. The Bill outlines the measures in areas including health, advocacy and education but these supports will only be meaningful if they are readily available. While the Bill has been generally well received, concerns have been raised about certain provisions within it. There have also been calls for additional supports in the areas of housing and health. One in Four, a charity that provides psychotherapy and advocacy support to men and women who have experienced childhood sexual abuse, has highlighted that while the provision of a free counselling service is welcome, many organisations are struggling to meet the demand for services. Maeve Lewis, CEO of the charity, stated by way of example that at One in Four, the waiting list for psychotherapy is more than one year and the same is true for the network of rape crisis centres and for the national counselling service. Survivors of institutional abuse deserve to have timely access to well-trained, experienced trauma psychotherapists and counsellors and no provision has been made for this in the Bill.

In light of these challenges, it is clear the Bill should be accompanied by a dedicated support agency to help survivors to access information about their entitlements under the Bill. This is crucial as some of the survivors may be suffering from chronic post-traumatic stress disorder and may lack the confidence to assertively claim their entitlements. Let us remember that these survivors have already endured so much. It is our duty to ensure they have the support they need to heal and move forward.

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