Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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138. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she plans to implement the recommendations of the Caranua report Facing the future together: Discussing Ireland’s lifelong responsibility to the survivors of institutional abuse for additional supports for survivors of institutional abuse. [8626/22]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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139. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress that has been made to equip all survivors of institutional abuse with medical cards and support with housing. [8627/22]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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140. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if all survivors of institutional abuse and their families will be provided with free, easily accessible counselling services. [8628/22]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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141. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress that has been made to ensure that all public service staff working in a customer-facing role and all medical staff receive trauma-informed training on the way to identify survivors of institutional abuse and support them. [8629/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 to 141, inclusive, together.

As the Deputy is aware, there are a number of published reports highlighting the ongoing needs of survivors and the lifelong difficulties they experience due to their childhood experiences in residential care.  

The “Facing the Future Together” conference report produced by the Christine Buckley Centre, Caranua, and others, was launched in October 2020 and identified the following supports as being particularly important for survivors:

- medical card,

- family services,

- advocacy support,

- trauma-informed practice, and

- global support. 

This report, along with other reports and outcomes of a survivor-led consultative forum, are currently being considered by my Department with input from colleagues from other Departments.  Significant resources are being devoted to progressing this work which 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 trauma and abuse in childhood, a free, professional and confidential National Counselling Service is operated by the HSE.  Full details are available at www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/4/mental-health-services/national-counselling-service