Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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159. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason advertisements are being broadcast on radio encouraging survivors of industrial schools to ring an organisation (details supplied), and on doing so, no support is provided given the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024 has not been passed; if he will correct this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27737/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, in June 2023 Government approved the delivery of a package of ongoing supports to survivors of abuse in residential institutions, including supports relating to health, education and advocacy. The development of this package of supports was informed by a consultation process with survivors and survivor groups, including a survivor-led Consultative Forum.

The report of the Consultative Forum noted the difficulties many survivors experience in engaging with and accessing public services, and identified a clear need for information, support and advocacy services for survivors to assist them in engaging with and accessing relevant existing services and supports.

In November 2023 the Department entered into a grant funding arrangement with Sage Advocacy, an independent advocacy organisation with a strong track record in providing advocacy supports to vulnerable adults, older people and healthcare patients, to develop such a service for survivors. Sage has recruited a number of staff to deliver this service, including Regional Advocates who are based around the country. These Regional Advocates are already engaging directly with relevant service providers on behalf of individual survivors, in areas such as social protection, housing and health.

Sage Advocacy is currently implementing an outreach and communications plan to raise awareness of the availability of the service. As well as engaging directly with survivors, survivor groups and other relevant stakeholders, this includes radio advertising.

In addition to supporting survivors and advocating on their behalf to ensure access to existing services, Sage Advocacy will also inform survivors of the additional supports to be provided under the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024, subject to enactment of the legislation, and support them in accessing those services.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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160. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the average age cohort of those who should benefit from the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024; the number of survivors seeking educational opportunities as a support; her views on whether this is the best support to be offered to older people who are seeking secure income and comfort in their homes rather than going back to education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27738/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, in June 2023 Government approved the delivery of a package of ongoing supports to survivors of abuse in residential institutions, including supports relating to health, education and advocacy. The development of this package of supports was informed by a consultation process with survivors and survivor groups, including a survivor-led Consultative Forum.

The report of the Consultative Forum noted that survivors considered that the education which they had received while resident in institutions was very poor, and identified supports for survivors to pursue education as being of benefit. The Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024 provides for the establishment of a new scheme involving the payment of cash grants ranging from €500 to €2,000 per year, depending on the level and duration of the course, to survivors who are engaging in, or who wish to continue to engage in, further and higher education.

Survivors will only be required to demonstrate that they have registered for a course and have paid whatever fees apply. They will be free to spend the grant as they see fit to support their studies, whether to purchase a laptop, fund travel costs or purchase necessary materials.

This scheme will also ensure that survivors are not required to pay the Student Contribution Charge where this would otherwise apply.

These grants will be additional to the wide range of enhanced supports which is in place for those seeking to engage in further and higher education, including the Free Fees Initiative, the SUSI Student Grant Scheme and the Back to Education Allowance, as well as initiatives such as Springboard.

With regard to the age profile of survivors, the Bill provides that these education supports will be made available to survivors who received an award of redress from the Residential Institutions Redress Board, or a similar court award or settlement. As the Deputy will be aware, the Redress Board operated on a confidential basis and therefore my Department does not have detailed information or data relating to those who will be eligible.

However, based on an actuarial study undertaken on behalf of Caranua in 2015, and utilising CSO data to estimate the survivor population at 1 January 2024, it is estimated that approximately 10,000 survivors would be eligible for these supports, and that the majority of those survivors are over the age of 65.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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161. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for the 61 properties handed over to the State from religious orders; how these will be used to benefit and support survivors of industrial schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27739/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Contributions from the 18 religious congregations have been made under two distinct rounds – the legally binding 2002 Indemnity Agreement, and the 2009 Voluntary Offers.

Under the 2002 Agreement, the transfers of 58 of the 60 properties are now complete. These properties were transferred to a range of recipients, including the Department of Education, the HSE, local authorities and community and voluntary organisations. The two remaining transfers, one to the Department and the other to the HSE, are progressing, and the properties are in use by the intended State recipient.

Under the 2009 Voluntary Offers, 17 of the 18 properties offered by the congregations and accepted for transfer to the State have now fully transferred. These properties were transferred to the Department of Education, the HSE and local authorities. The transfer of the one remaining property, which is to the HSE, is progressing.

The transfer of these properties forms part of the overall contribution of the congregations towards the cost of the State’s response to the issue of historical abuse in residential institutions. This response has, to date, involved expenditure of approximately €1.5bn, including direct redress payments and other supports for survivors amounting to approximately €1.1bn.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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162. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024 will move to Committee stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27740/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Dáil Committee Stage for the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024 took place on Wednesday 21 June 2024.