Ongoing Needs of Survivors

In 2020 a report based on the presentations made at the Trinity Conference was published with the title Facing the Future Together. It outlined the ongoing needs of survivors and contained five key proposals on how such needs should be addressed. The report was sent to the key Government officials and representatives and other interested parties who were encouraged to implement its proposals. 

Our team and a number of agencies collaborated on this report including Barnardo’s Origins, Caranua, One in Four, HSE National Counselling Service, Right of Place Second Chance, and Towards Healing. It was funded by the Department of Education and Skills.

Based on research conducted by UCD Professor Alan Carr and his colleagues, the report identified five asks which our board believe are essential to address the future needs of survivors of institutional abuse:

• Health Amendment Act medical card for survivors and support with housing

• Continuation of free easily accessible counselling services for survivors

 • Provision of advocacy supports for survivors in the long-term, including accessing public services, linkage with support services, homelessness and addiction supports.

• All medical and public service staff working in a customer-facing role should receive trauma-informed practice training on how to identify survivors and the different approaches to the support they may require.

• Identification of supports needed by survivors based outside of Ireland