415. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to ensure the inclusion of persons who are nonverbal in redress schemes run by her Department and intended to compensate and give justice to survivors of institutional abuse. [49777/26]

Information on the supports available to survivors of abuse in residential institutions is available online at www.gov.ie/survivorsupports. This includes information on the applications processes and contact details for my Department.

Officials in my Department are aware that some applicants may need additional support in completing the application process and are available to engage with family members or other advocates who wish to engage with the Department on behalf of such applicants.

In addition, my Department has engaged Sage Advocacy to provide advocacy supports directly to survivors. Sage has a strong track record in providing such supports to healthcare patients, older persons and vulnerable adults, and can be contacted via its website, www.sageadvocacy.ie, or by phone at 01 536 7330.

My Department can also request that Sage provides direct assistance to applicants as required.