Memorial Committee for survivors of abuse

As part of the Government’s implementation of the recommendations of the Ryan Report, the first meeting of the Committee to oversee the design and commissioning of a memorial for victims of institutional abuse recently took place.

The remit of the Committee is to:

• consider the views of the survivor groups, survivors and interested parties in relation to the location and nature of the memorial to be commissioned;
• make recommendations on the location and nature of the memorial in a manner that best takes account of the views of the groups representing survivors of abuse, survivors and interested parties and to consider arrangements for a national day of remembrance and solidarity;
• oversee the commissioning and delivery by the Office of Public Works (through competition) of the design and commissioning of the memorial.

The committee is now seeking submissions from survivors groups, survivors and their families regarding the location and nature of the memorial.

The committee is also inviting views on the consideration of a national day of remembrance and solidarity.

To this end, advertisements will be placed in the national papers seeking these submissions.

A budget of up to €500,000 is being set aside for the project which will be managed by the OPW.

Proposals may be submitted electronically to memorial@education.gov.ie, a link to which will be placed on the Department of Education and Science website.

Hard copy/audio/video submissions can also be sent to Secretary to the Memorial Committee, Residential Institutions Redress Unit, Department of Education and Science, Cornamaddy, Athlone, Co Westmeath.

The closing date for the receipt of submissions is February 15, 2010.