Waterford City and County Council have approved a proposal from central government to deem survivors of institutional abuse as vulnerable people in the allocation of social housing.
This would allow survivors of institutional abuse, such as those who lived in Waterford’s Magdaline Laundries, to be prioritised when social housing is being allocated.
These changes come following hunger strikes outside Leinster House by four survivors last year. On Wednesday February 25 last, Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, issued an apology on behalf of government to survivors of institutional abuse, this apology added to the state apology issued in 1999.
On the back of a commitment made to four abuse survivors who went on hunger strike outside Leinster House last year, a proposal to recognise survivors of institutional abuse as a special category for social housing came before Waterford Council for discussion.
Director of Services for Housing, Seamus De Faoite, outlined the proposed change.
“Our housing allocation scheme allows for the designation of housing to specific cohorts and vulnerable persons,” explained Mr. De Faoite.
“It is proposed that Waterford City and County Council specifically determine the following as vulnerable persons in our housing allocation scheme: those who receive redress under the Magdaline laundries redress scheme; those who received redress under the residential institutions redress scheme; and those who received redress under the mother and baby or county homes redress scheme.
“These were all people who were in institutions between 1922 and 1998. Nationally there is a possible 23,000 people, that have accessed these schemes.
“We think that these people are probably on our housing list anyway, about 100 or so and this recognises those people.”
Unsurprisingly this drew comments from multiple Councillors, with Cllr. Tom Cronin speaking up first to officially propose the change, followed by Cllr. Joe Kelly seconding. Cllr. Kelly did have some queries as to how the Council decided who qualified as a vulnerable person and who did not.
This issue was picked up by a few Councillors, with the salient point being that a person may only have attended these institutions for a short amount of time, meaning they do not qualify for a redress scheme, but could still be living with lasting consequences from the experience.
Speaking in relation to his work with mothers who lived in Bessborough House, Cllr. Jim Griffin, said those he spoke to were delighted with the change in housing allocations, but felt the change would be “a hammer blow” to the minority who fell outside the redress scheme for minor reasons.
He explained that the survivors of Bessborough House asked that a provision be made that if someone did fall outside the redress scheme for a minor reason that they not be penalised again.
With multiple Councillors echoing this sentiment, Cllr. Joeanne Baily asked that the allocations be considered on a case-by-case basis, while Cllr. Jason Murphy asked that his colleagues not lose sight of the fact that this was a positive development for those who were shunned from society by the arms of the state.
In response to these queries, Director of Services Seamus De Faoite said: “To be very clear, we are not creating the rules here. We are not playing judge and jury. When a person comes to us they will be able to show proof that they have gone through that process”.
“The background to this is that government document in 2021 and those cohorts.
“What I would say in general about there being other groups, is that we are working with different groups to see how we can serve those people well. Again, it’s a case of being fair and equal to all.”
Mr. De Faoite also confirmed that Waterford City and County Council was likely to be one of the first local authorities to take this step.
“These people suffered enough,” concluded Mayor Seamus Ryan. “Anything we can do to alleviate that I think we should be doing it.”
Hunger Strike
Last week the Taoiseach issued an apology on behalf of the Government to survivors of institutional abuse including survivors who experienced abuse when boarded out.
Boarded out is a term used to describe children who were fostered or raised by families other than their own, in Ireland these cases usually took place between 1920 and 1970.
This apology builds on the first formal apology issued by the Irish government in 1999. The February 2026 apology clarifies that no survivor received a criminal record by virtue of being placed in an industrial school, or reformatory school by transfer from an industrial school.
This apology comes after four survivors of abuse in industrial schools, Miriam Moriarty Owens, Mary Donovan, Mary Dunlevy Greene, and Maurice Patton O’Connell, went on hunger strike outside Leinster House last year.
Reports state this hunger strike lasted 51 days before the group agreed to end their strike following a meeting with the Taoiseach and the then Minister for Education and Youth.
Following negotiations with the survivors a mediator was appointed and commitments were made by the Taoiseach which included an apology and a package of additional supports.
These supports address education, health, housing, and funeral costs.
Collective Failure
Speaking in Dáil Éireann Taoiseach Micheál Martin issued the following apology to survivors of institutional abuse: “In May 1999, on behalf of the State and of all the citizens of the State, the Government made a sincere apology to the victims of childhood abuse for the collective failure to intervene, to detect their pain, to come to their rescue”.
"Since then, we have put in place a comprehensive approach to deal with the effects of previous abuse, to protect children and to strengthen structures and accountability for child protection in this country,” said Taoiseach Martin.
"But I fully recognise that for those who suffered institutional abuse the effects have been enduring. I was moved by the personal stories of those survivors that I met, who are here in Dáil Éireann today, and I am deeply sorry for the harm suffered as a consequence of the abuse experienced in state institutions.
"I am also aware that some of these survivors suffered abuse when boarded out from industrial and reformatory schools. In 2021, as part of the Government apology to survivors of mother and baby homes, I also acknowledged that some children who were subsequently boarded-out experienced heartbreaking exploitation, neglect and abuse within the families and communities in which they were placed. As I said at that time, and wish to reiterate today, regardless of the pathway from which individuals were boarded out, this was unforgiveable.
"I also welcomed the opportunity today to clarify the position regarding criminal records for individuals who were in industrial and reformatory schools and a separate statement on that matter will be issued today by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration,” the Taoiseach added.
AARON KENT
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
