Minister Naughton invites survivors of residential institutional abuse to apply for new supports
- Published on: 6 March 2026
- Last updated on: 6 March 2026
Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton has invited survivors of residential institutional abuse to apply for a package of education and health supports, to be provided under the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Act 2025.
These supports build upon the already significant State response to the issue.
The Government agreed a package of additional supports for survivors of institutional abuse following engagements between a group of survivors and the Taoiseach and Minister for Education and Youth at the end of last year and a successful mediation process. As part of this a formal Government apology to survivors of institutional abuse was also issued in Dáil Éireann last month.
Among the supports being made available are:
- A medical card for life for eligible survivors
- Improved access to counselling and physiotherapy services
- A once-off health support payment of €3,000 to those resident outside the State
- An education support payments scheme, to support formal and informal learning and self-development
Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton said:
“All of government is acutely mindful of the trauma that has been endured by all abuse survivors. While nothing we can do now can ever make up for the harm that was suffered, it is imperative that we respond strongly and address its impact on survivors’ lives.
Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton
“That is why we are now moving to a new phase of State supports. We are now inviting survivors of residential institutional abuse to apply so they can benefit from measures including medical cards for life, improved access to counselling and physiotherapy, education supports including a payments scheme to support formal and informal learning and self-development."
Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton
Under the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Act 2025, eligible survivors will be provided with a medical card which will entitle them to certain health supports and services through the HSE. This entitlement will be for life and will not be subject to means-testing or review.
Government has now agreed to strengthen this package of health supports through the appointment of specified liaison officers within the HSE and through improved access to counselling and physiotherapy services.
Survivors who are resident outside the State are eligible for a once-off health support payment of €3,000.
Government has also approved the expansion of the education support payments scheme under the Act. This will now provide support payments of €600 per year for informal learning and self-development, in addition to the payments of €500 to €2,000 which are to be made available to support formal learning.
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 has identified a dedicated housing liaison officer who will act as a contact point for information and guidance on how to access appropriate support to meet their housing need.
The Department of Social Protection has also instructed Community Welfare Services to give specific consideration and recognition to survivors of residential institutions for funeral costs.
In addition, survivors will 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 to industrial schools.
Information on the supports, and how to apply for them, has been published on the Department’s website at www.gov.ie/survivorsupports.
Survivors who wish to receive direct information from the department in relation to the supports can contact survivorsupports@education.gov.ie.
Sage Advocacy is also available to provide support to survivors in applying for these supports:
Contact details for Sage Advocacy
- web: https://sageadvocacy.ie/
- email: info@sageadvocacy.ie
- phone: 01-5367330