Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I support Senator Joan Freeman on the importance of funding for mental health services. In west Tallaght, there was a cluster of five suicides in a short space of time. One of those cases involved a 15 year old young lad. His mother's husband killed himself last year while her mother killed herself a few years ago. She is trying to access support services because she and her 15 year old daughter are now at high risk, given the impact of three suicides in her family. Services, however, are so under-resourced that she will wait weeks to access support services. The ripple effect from suicide clusters means the young girl in question is at high risk of suicide ideation.

Friends of the young lad who killed himself have set up a memorial with flowers at the wall near where he passed away. They gather there every night. This is their grieving process and they are trying to come to terms with it. However, there is a stigma around it. The other night a caller on FM 104 and others in the media told these young men and women to get over it and stop hanging around this memorial wall. That is an absolute disgrace.

Will the Leader invite the Minister for Education and Skills to address the Seanad to answer concerns relating to Caranua, the State body which administers the fund for survivors of institutional abuse? This fund was intended to provide support, relief and training for those who suffered the worst treatment imaginable in the industrial schools. The legacy of the industrial schools is one of the greatest stains on our history. While I applaud the intention to provide State support to survivors, it is clear this fund, and how it is administered, is failing the very people it was intended to help.

It must be kept in mind that it is an ageing population, which has access to this fund, and how important it is they are treated with respect and dignity. Survivors have reported extraordinarily negative experiences when dealing with Caranua. They have contacted a number of elected representatives to express their dismay. They are a group of people who are understandably distrustful of engaging with any bureaucracy. It is unacceptable they are being dealt with so poorly. The delayed 2015 report of the appeal officer showed a State body being administered poorly which needs to be further investigated. Survivors have also reported the sudden erroneous closing of active cases by the body with no adequate reasons given. Will the Leader call on the Minister for Education and Skills to discuss this matter in the House?