Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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597. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 598 of 28 April 2021, the actions that have been taken post Caranua to ensure continued support of survivors of institutional abuse; if she will provide details of the ongoing supports that remain in place given the acknowledgement that survivors must be supported lifelong; if an interdepartmental group is underway; if so, the conclusions that have been reached to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51143/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As outlined in the earlier response, there are a number of published reports and ongoing consultation work highlighting the needs of survivors.  For example, the report Consultations with Survivors of Institutional Abuse on Themes and Issues to be addressed by Survivor Led Consultation was published in August 2019 while the Facing the Future conference report was launched in October 2020.  This work has identified and highlighted a number of supports including around the health needs of an aging population, social and advocacy supports and trauma-informed practices.  

A Survivor-Led Consultation Group was established during 2020 to engage in a further phase of the consultation process.Meetings are facilitated by professionally qualified facilitators who are funded by my Department.  I met with the Group in December 2020 to hear about the various issues which had been identified by the Group.  Officials from my Department also met with the Group earlier this month to discuss their work.

These reports and proposals are currently being considered by an Inter-Departmental Group established by my Department and comprising of a number of Government Departments who are responsible for the provision of services and supports identified by the survivors.  The work of the Inter- Departmental Group is ongoing and their conclusions will feed into my consideration of proposals to Government in this context. 

As part of the State's response to individuals experiencing distress as a result of childhood sexual abuse, a free National Counselling Service is run by the HSE with priority given to adult survivors of institutional abuse.  Full details are available onwww.hse.ie/eng/services/list/4/mental-health-services/national-counselling-service.