Survivors of abuse in industrial and reformatory schools are set to be offered financial assistance, priority access for social housing and a range of healthcare supports provided by the Government.
It is understood that Taoiseach Micheál Martin set out a number of measures to a group of survivors who have been on hunger strike outside Leinster House for the last 51 days.
Mr Martin said he was very concerned about their wellbeing and urged them to end their protest and access medical treatment, it is understood.
Earlier on Monday, Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald urged the Taoiseach to find a resolution to the issue before the health of the those involved in the protest worsened.
RM Block
“For the last 51 days, four survivors of residential abuse in industrial schools, Miriam Moriarty Owens, Mary Donovan, Mary Dunlevy Greene, and Maurice Patton O’Connell, have been on a hunger strike protest outside Leinster House. Concerns are growing by the day as their health deteriorates,” she said.
It is understood that the Government’s view is that the provision of a contributory State pension, which has been sought by the campaigners, would be “complex”.
However, Government proposals could involve the provision of top-up grants among possible other financial measures.
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The Government is also believed to be looking at the provision of a series of healthcare supports including GP care, home nursing and home helps as well as chiropody and podiatry services. There would also be new health liaison officers specifically for industrial and reformatory school survivors.
It is understood the Government’s proposals would also see local authorities being instructed that survivors of industrial and reformatory schools be prioritised for social housing needs.
The Department of Social Protection would also provide financial assistance and Community Welfare Officers would be directed to give specific consideration to survivors of residential institutions for funeral costs.
The Government would also be prepared to state publicly that nobody has a criminal record as a result of having been in an industrial and reformatory school.
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If required, the State would provide an official certificate setting out that the person concerned is not regarded as a criminal and that no criminal conviction is recorded against anyone as a result of being detained in an industrial or reformatory school.
The Government is also understood to be looking at issuing an apology to those who were boarded out from industrial and reformatory schools.
