1221. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the supports that were committed to be delivered for survivors of industrial and reformatory schools (details supplied); if the supports have all been delivered; if not, when they will be delivered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56154/26]

As the Deputy will be aware, Government is delivering a package of ongoing supports to survivors of abuse in residential institutions such as industrial schools and reformatories, building upon the already significant response to this issue to date.

The package of supports, which was initially approved by Government in June 2023, is comprised of a number of elements, including health, education and advocacy supports and other initiatives in the areas of housing and funeral costs.

Responsibility for the delivery of these supports rests with a number of Departments, agencies and other bodies.

My Department published information on the supports to be provided and opened to applications for the health and education supports, on Friday 6 March. This information can be found at www.gov.ie/survivorsupports and will be updated as appropriate.

My Department is responsible for confirming eligibility for the health and education supports to be provided under the Support for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Act 2025, and for making payments under that Act.

To date, approximately 1200 confirmation of eligibility applications have been received. My Department is engaging with applicants to either confirm that they are eligible or to otherwise progress their applications (for example, to request further necessary documentation).

Applications for supports are also being processed on an ongoing basis. My Department is sharing relevant information with the HSE to enable the provision of specific medical cards to eligible survivors and, to date, the details of approximately 750 eligible survivors who are resident in Ireland have been shared in this regard.

With regard to the appointment of health liaison officers by the HSE, it is understood that the HSE is making the necessary arrangements but this is primarily a matter for the HSE and the Department of Health.

My Department is also issuing education supports payments to survivors, with approximately 900 such applications having been processed to date.

Applicants are also being contacted to encourage them to submit health and education supports applications where they have not already done so.

With regard to applications for housing and funeral costs supports, these are a matter for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Department of Social Protection respectively and are being delivered through the local authorities and Community Welfare Offices.

Local authorities have identified an appropriate member of staff within the housing section of each local authority who can act as a dedicated liaison and contact point for survivors. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has also written to each local authority requesting that they consider the housing needs of survivors on compassionate grounds when assessing social housing support applications from survivors.

Within the Department of Social Protection, Community Welfare Officers have been instructed to give specific consideration to the funeral costs of survivors of abuse in residential institutions.

Sage Advocacy has also been engaged by my Department to deliver advocacy supports to survivors and it can be contacted via its website, www.sageadvocacy.ie, or by phone at 01 536 7330.