The Special Advocate for Survivors of Institutional Abuse has expressed concern over a hunger strike by Survivors of Industrial Schools and Reformatory Institutions, which commenced at midnight last night.
They are calling for access to cards under Health Amendment Act (HAA), that provide cover for a range of specific medical issues including counselling services.
They say the cards are necessary to deal with the lasting effects of the institutional abuse.
They also want full contributory state pensions for work carried out as children when forced to work long hours, unpaid, that saved the state and religious orders a significant amount of money.
Patricia Carey has said that her key concern relates to the health and well-being of those who are currently outside Leinster House.
She has called on the Department of Education to continue to engage in dialogue and meet with the five Survivors to ensure a speedy resolution to the issues they have raised.
"Survivors of institutions should not have to resort to this extreme action in order to receive proper state supports," she said.
The Special Advocate has previously pointed out that the Support for Survivors of Residential Abuse legislation is not fit for purpose and that the exclusion of any survivor from the support provisions outlined in the Act further enforces the lack of justice for all survivors.
Ms Carey recently met with the Survivor group in Limerick, along with Department of Education officials, and is now calling for further meetings to explore an agreement to end the hunger strike.
