Industrial Schools

Midlands Irish Survivors Service

The Midlands Irish Survivors Service supports people who as children were victims of institutional childhood abuse within the Republic of Ireland. Irish Survivors are entitled to apply for compensation to the Redress Board under the terms and conditions of the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002. Contact us or visit www.rirb.ie for further info.

What is the Redress Board?

The Redress Board was set up in 2002 to administer compensation to victims of institutional childhood abuse within the Republic of Ireland. The Redress Board was open for applications from 2002 until December 15th 2005. However if you have missed the deadline of December 15th 2005 you can still make what is called a late application to the Board.

Late Applications

The Redress Board can accept late applications for redress "where it considers there are exceptional circumstances" or when the person concerned was under a "legal disability" If you wish to find out further information please contact us on 02476257943.

Free Counselling

Irish Survivors and their families are also entitled to free counselling. This counselling is provided by the Immigrant Counselling and Psychotherapy Service (ICAP) www.icap.org.uk We can help you make a referral and offer you support and advice to get started.

Education Fund

There is also an Education Fund available to Survivors and their families contact us or visit www.educationfinanceboard.com for further information.

If you are affected by any of the issues above and/or would like to know more about the services we provide please contact us on 02476257943 or by email survivors@covirishsoc.org.uk

Commission to Inquire into Childhood Abuse

The Commission to Inquire into Childhood Abuse was set up in 2000 to inquire into the nature and extent of institutional childhood abuse within the industrial school system within the Republic of Ireland see www.childabusecommission.ie for further info.

The final report of the Commission is to be published on the 20th of May 2009. Anyone wishing to know more about this subject can contact us, details above.

Were you in a residential institution within the Republic of Ireland? This could be an industrial school, convent, reformatory, children’s hospital and possibly other types of institutions, Contact us for support and advice.

Outreach Worker: Simon McCarthy
Admin Support: Heather Winter