Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

153. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he has taken to appoint a special advocate for survivors of institutional abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21917/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 163 together.

In November 2022, Government approved proposals for the appointment of a Special Advocate for Survivors of Institutional Abuse. The Special Advocate will manage and facilitate consultation with survivors to identify and discuss issues of concern for them. Their primary role will be to represent the collective interests of those who suffered institutional trauma.

The remit of the Special Advocate will cover Industrial and Reformatory Schools, Magdalen Laundries, Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions, and the comparable experiences of those who were boarded out. This holistic approach recognises both the unique and shared elements of survivors’ experiences.

The Special Advocate will be operationally independent of my Department in their work, and will be supported by a dedicated secretariat and an Advisory Council of survivors.

A campaign to recruit the Special Advocate commenced through the Public Appointments Service in March and is ongoing at present.