Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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817. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on survivors of institutional abuse not being able to access medical help, including counselling through Caranua, as was promised to them as part of the redress they received from the State. [13782/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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When the revelations of institutional child abuse came to the fore in the 1990s, the State sought to respond by putting in place a number of measures including a National Counselling Service.

The National Counselling Service (NCS) has been in existence since 2000.  It is a professional, confidential counselling and psychotherapy service available free of charge in all regions of the Health Services Executive. Priority is given to adults who have experienced trauma and abuse in childhood with priority given to adult survivors of institutional abuse in Ireland.

Self-referrals are accepted. Written referrals are also accepted from health care and other professionals such as GPs, social Workers and mental health practitioners.

Accessing the National Counselling Service is not dependent on Caranua.  Similarly, accessing the public health system is not dependent on Caranua.