Priorities/urgent needs for all survivors in this post-Ryan era
Added on January 24, 2010Thomas Sweeney
18 Drumcairn Avenue
Tallaght
Dublin 24
20/01/10
Dear Taoiseach,
On behalf of the many survivors who do not frequent the Aislinn Centre, Right of Place Centre, and other such centres in other countries, I am writing to ask you to hold in abeyance any and all negotiations regarding a monument to survivors of institutional abuse until the following urgent needs/priorities are acknowledged, honoured and where applicable, written into law.
The landscape regarding survivors has changed quite considerably since the publication of The Ryan Report last year.
The Ryan Report clearly highlights the physical, psychological and emotional neglect of survivors, who lived part, or all of their childhoods in state institutions.
The Taoiseach's apology in 1999 was followed with the establishing of the Redress Board and the opening of centres, such as The Aislinn Centre in Dublin, The Right of Place Centre in Cork, and other such centres in other countries.
These centres were originally set up as drop in, information centres, but over a fairly short period of time, centres like the Aislinn in Dublin, evolved into education centres.
As education centres, these places must have fulfilled their vision/purpose in the ten or so years they have been in operation. If they have not, it is highly unlikely they are going to do so at this stage, some ten or so years on.
We request that all these centres in Ireland and other countries start a winding down process, with a view to complete closure at the end of this academic year, 2010.
We also request an in-depth review of the education fund criteria and ask that the findings of this review be made available to the following group representatives and centre managers
Tom Hayes, Representative for the Alliance support group.
Michael O'Brien, Representative for the Right to Peace group
John Kelly, representative for the SOCA Ireland group.
Group representatives in other countries.
Manager of the Aislinn Centre,
Manager of the Right of Place Centre
Managers of similar centres in other countries.
Priorities/urgent needs for all survivors in this post-Ryan era
In the past ten or so years a lot of emphasis has centred on education and counselling for survivors. However, in these ten or so years, there has been no concern for the medical and dental needs of survivors.
It is now time, in this post Ryan era, to fully address and focus on the medical and dental needs of survivors, whose physical ill health and poor dental health is, in most cases, the direct result of many years of neglect, when they were children in state institutions.
We request that a special medical insurance fund be set up for the benefit of all survivors' physical health and dental health, and that all survivors living in Ireland, which it is estimated to be between 6,000 and 8,000, be granted a medical card for their life time, regardless of their financial status.
It is more than ten years since the Taoiseach's apology in May 1999, and many survivors are still living in sub-standard accommodation.
We request Minister for Housing and Local Services, to appoint a representative from his department, with special responsibilities to oversee the housing needs of all survivors.
We request in place of education centres, like the Aislinn and Right of Place that one central office, managed with skilled, professional personal, be set up as an information centre for survivors only.
One of the principle reasons for the establishment of the Redress Board was to expedite survivors' cases, so that survivors did not have to wait long years for their cases heard in the high court
Many survivors have unfinished business with The Law Society regarding complaints about solicitors, assigned to represent them in The Redress Board.
Some survivors' lodged their complaints with the Law Society as far back as five and more years ago. There appears to be little hope that these complaints will be resolved and brought to closure in the near future.
The Law Societies long drawn out process of inquiry/investigation into survivors' complaints defeats the above mentioned principle of the Redress Board; adds new trauma to survivors lives, keeps them locked in their past trauma which blocks their healing capacity and prevents them from getting on with their lives.
We request the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Dermot Ahern T.D., to take into account the special profile of survivors and in the interest of their well being to explore ways to speed up survivors' complaints with the Law Society.
We wish to stress again that until all the requests/priorities outlined in this letter are honoured and, where applicable, placed on a statutory footing, that all negotiations regarding the construction of a monument to survivors of institutional abuse be held in abeyance.
Many Thanks
Sincerely,
________________________________________
Thomas Sweeney
Copy to:
Minister for Education and Science Bat O'Keeffe T.D.,
Minister for Health, Mary Harney TD
Minister for Housing, Michael Finneran TD
Minister for Justice and Law Reform, Dermot Ahearn TD
Michael O'Brien, representative for the Right to Peace support group
Tom Hayes, representative for the Alliance Support group.
John Kelly representative for the SOCA Ireland group
Manager of the Aislinn Centre
Manager of the Right of Place Centre