State apology to be given to victims of abuse in industrial schools

By Gráinne Ní Aodha, Press Association

A State apology is to be given by the Taoiseach to people who suffered abuse in industrial and reformatory schools.

The Government has agreed a package of additional supports for survivors of abuse at institutional schools, including health, education, housing and funeral cost supports.

In November, Taoiseach Micheál Martin and then-education minister Helen McEntee met with survivors who were on hunger strike outside Leinster House over a lack of support from the Government.

A commitment was given to the group, and a mediator has been working through their concerns.

On Tuesday, the Taoiseach indicated he would give a formal apology to survivors in the Dail on behalf of the Government and in consultation with the Attorney General, Rossa Fanning.

A scoping inquiry published in 2024 found that almost 2,400 allegations of historical sexual abuse were recorded by 308 schools run by religious orders across Ireland.

The allegations were made against 884 alleged abusers in day and boarding schools run by 42 religious orders.

The report said 17 were special schools, which recorded 590 allegations involving 190 alleged abusers.

The inquiry came after an RTÉ documentary prompted the Spiritan Congregation to apologise to victims of abuse and said an independent group would engage with survivors at its schools and institutions, including Blackrock College in Dublin.

The abuse allegations dated back as far as the 1970s.