Abuse survivors encouraged to contact Sage Advocacy for help with accessing new supports
Sage Advocacy has welcomed today’s announcement of a new package of Government backed measures, including health and education supports for survivors of residential institutional abuse.
The charity has encouraged those who are eligible for the supports to make contact with it to receive assistance if required.
The Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton today announced:
- A medical card for life for eligible survivors
- Improved access to counselling and physiotherapy services
- A once off health support payment of €3000 to those resident outside the State
- An education support payments scheme to support formal and informal learning.
Sage Advocacy is the National Advocacy Service for Older People and Survivors of Institutional Abuse and is available to support survivors in applying for the new supports.
CEO Bibiana Savin said: “Sage Advocacy welcomes the publication of these supports by the Department of Education. Nothing can undo the enduring harm experienced by children in Industrial and Reformatory schools in Ireland, but it is important that survivors are provided with practical supports that recognise the lifelong impact of those experiences. We are pleased that Sage’s advocacy service forms part of the supports available to survivors”.
Supports for Survivors of Institutional Abuse Service Project Manager, Damian O’Farrell, said: “The legislative supports and additional measures announced today are a positive development. The additional measures in particular, are the direct achievement of four brave survivors who campaigned on behalf of all former industrial and reformatory school residents”.
“The Sage nationwide team of advocates will support survivors, on a one to basis, to access information about services to which they are entitled and, where they can, provide support with accessing them. This service is free of charge, consent based and confidential, and Sage will act independent of family members, service providers and systems interests, whether church, state or Institutional.”
In addition, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has written to each Local Authority requesting they use their powers to prioritise social housing support on compassionate grounds to survivors of industrial and reformatory schools. In order to assist survivors, each local authority will nominate a dedicated housing liaison officer who will act as a contact point for information and guidance on how to access support to meet their housing need.
Damian O’Farrell added: “A key priority now is that we ensure that survivors are aware and can access the supports available to them in areas of health, education and housing”.
Furthermore, the Department of Social Protection has instructed Community Welfare Services to give specific consideration and recognition to survivors of residential institutions for funeral costs. Survivors will also be able to apply to receive confirmation from the Minister for Justice that they do not have criminal records as a result of their detention in industrial schools.
Sage Advocacy can be contacted at 01 536 7330, or email info@sageadvocacy.ie. See www.sageadvocacy.ie.
Further information
Ronan Cavanagh, Cavanagh Communications: 086 317 9731 ronan@cavanaghcommunications.ie
Sage Advocacy is the National Advocacy Service for Older People and Survivors of Institutional Abuse. It works to ensure that people have easy access to information, support, independent advocacy and safeguarding services in all settings: homes, day centres, respite facilities, congregated care settings / nursing homes, hospitals, hostels, hospices and in the process of transition between them.
Sage Advocacy is fully funded from public sources, chiefly the HSE and the Department of Education, with additional funding from the Department of Justice.
Cavanagh Communications
Media Relations I Public Affairs I Communications Management
OfficePod 18, 6-7 Marine Road, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, A96 R2N4, Ireland.
www.cavanaghcommunications.ie I PR Institute Awards 2022, 2015 and 2014.
