Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 5, line 10, after “Education” to insert “and Youth”.

I will speak broadly as I know this is the first time the Bill has been back in the House with this Government and this is the first time I am taking it as Minister. I am pleased to be before the House to progress Report Stage of the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024. The Government is deeply conscious of the trauma that has been experienced by all survivors of abuse, including those who were resident in institutions such as industrial schools and reformatories. Nothing can ever make up for the pain and suffering which was endured by survivors.

As Deputies will be aware, in June 2023 the Government approved the provision of a package of supports and services for survivors of abuse in residential institutions, comprising a number of elements relating to health, education, advocacy and trauma informed practice. This marks a new phase of the State providing ongoing supports to survivors and builds on the response to this issue to date, which has involved expenditure of approximately €1.5 billion, including direct payments and support to survivors totalling €1.1 billion.

The Bill has two main purposes: to enable the delivery of ongoing health and education supports to survivors of abuse in residential institutions such as industrial schools and reformatories; and to provide for the dissolution of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board, also known as Caranua. The development of the new package of supports was by consideration of reports of the survivor-led consultative forum, along with other relevant reports and submissions.

Subject to the completion of Report and Final Stages in the House, it is my intention to progress the passage of the Bill through the Seanad in the coming weeks to enable the delivery to survivors of the health and education supports outlined in the Bill. It is intended that access to the education support and health supports payments for former residents who were resident outside of the State will be available from 1 August this year. The roll out of the health supports for those resident in Ireland will be in the third quarter of this year, following consultation with the Minister for Health and HSE.

The subsequent amendments are technical amendments, the purpose of which is to amend the Bill to reflect the change to ministerial responsibilities which have recently taken place. Amendments Nos. 1, 5 and 20 replace the term "Minister for Education" with the term "Minister for Education and Youth". Amendment No. 2 replaces a reference to the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth with a reference to the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality.

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