Recommendation HIA-8: Specialist Care and Assistance Facilities
From Report of the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry, published 20 January 2017.
Recommendation
Sufficient funds should be made available by government on a ring-fenced basis for a fixed period of ten years, subject to a review after five years, to establish dedicated specialist facilities in Belfast, Derry and, if necessary, at other suitable locations across Northern Ireland to provide: (a) general counselling services for those who have suffered abuse as children in residential institutions in Northern Ireland, supported by appropriate links to the health service and to other relevant housing, education and employment services; and (b) practical help with literacy and numeracy, education, employment, housing and benefits advice tailored to the needs of individual victims of institutional abuse.
In brief (written by this site)
The Inquiry recommended ring-fenced funding for specialist support and counselling facilities for abuse victims. In a September 2024 written answer, the First Minister and deputy First Minister (Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly) stated that a support service facilitated by the Victims and Survivors Service (VSS) commenced in December 2020, with a five-year review due in 2025, but did not mention dedicated facilities in Belfast and Derry or practical help with literacy and numeracy (Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly, Sep 2024). Earlier, in a December 2020 news release, The Executive Office (Northern Ireland) announced dedicated health, wellbeing, and social support measures for victims and survivors (The Executive Office (Northern Ireland), Dec 2020).
Sources
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 1 Oct 2026. The record below is the sources' own words.
Government response
No formal government response published. The Inquiry reported on 20 January 2017, the month the Northern Ireland Executive collapsed; the report The Executive Office and the Northern Ireland Office laid before Parliament in September 2019 records that, because of the collapse, the report and its recommendations had not yet been put to the Executive.
Delivery
The Executive Office says in progress (19 September 2024)
One of the recommendations of the Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA) Inquiry report was that services should be made available to HIA victims and survivors for a fixed period of ten years, with a review taking place after five years. A support service for HIA victims and survivors, facilitated by the Victims and Survivors Service, commenced in December 2020. A review will therefore be due in 2025.
Site note: The answer describes this recommendation (services for ten years, reviewed after five) without giving its number.
The Executive Office (Northern Ireland) says in progress (1 December 2020)
First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill have announced a range of support measures for survivors of Historical Institutional Abuse. The dedicated measures - including health and wellbeing, social support and related services for victims and survivors of HIA - will be delivered by the Victims and Survivors Service (VSS).
From: Ministers announce new support services for HIA survivors
Responsible bodies
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- Northern Ireland Executive
Response - The Executive Office
Delivery statement - The Executive Office (Northern Ireland)
Delivery statement