Survivor Engagement Programme

The Survivor Engagement Programme is a voluntary programme designed to give survivors of child sexual abuse in schools a supportive space to share more about their experiences and how these experiences have affected their lives.

In the survey, we ask if you might be interested in taking part in the Survivor Engagement Programme. If you indicate that you may be interested in taking part, then we will contact you once the programme is ready to begin. At that point we will arrange an appointment with you and answer any questions that you may have.                                

We will also ask you about how you would like to take part and about any specific needs or accessibility requirements you may have. You can read more about how we can help you to take part below, under the heading of Accessibility.

The programme will give you the chance to share more detail, in your own words and at your own pace, about your experience. The Survivor Engagement Programme is entirely voluntary and you can change your mind about taking part at any time.

We hope to begin the programme in 2027, once all survey responses have been collected and following initial analysis.

The programme is informal, confidential and anonymised. It is not a legal process or a formal hearing. What you share will be treated in confidence, and your identity will be protected.

The programme will offer a supportive and informal space where you can talk to a trained facilitator about how the abuse you experienced has affected you. You can share your experience in your own words, in your own way and at your own pace. There will be no court-style hearings in the Survivor Engagement Programme, and you will not be formally questioned or cross-examined.

What you share will help the Commission better understand the impact of child sexual abuse in schools. The programme will help inform a report on the impact of school-related sexual abuse to the Chair of the Commission. This report will be anonymous, will not identify you or any other person, and will not make findings about any individual person or organisation. It will reflect the broad themes and issues arising in the Survivor Engagement Programme. It may quote from participants in the programme, who will not be identified. The outcomes of the Survivor Engagement Programme will also inform the Commission’s Report to the Minister for Education and Youth.

If you choose to take part, you can do so in the way that suits you best. This may include:

• Taking part in person
• Taking part online
• Taking part by phone
• Sharing your experience in writing

Most in-person conversations will take place at the Commission’s premises in Dublin, in dedicated rooms designed to be comfortable and welcoming. If this does not suit you, we will work with you to find another option. This may include meeting closer to your home.

You can bring a person with you for support, such as a friend or family member, or you can get support from the Commission’s Participation Support Service.

You are in control of what you share. You can decide what you want to talk about, how much detail you want to give, and when you want to stop. This programme is about giving survivors a chance to be heard in a way that feels comfortable, respectful and on their own terms.      

Taking part in the programme means that your experience will be heard and will be acknowledged. Sharing your experience with the Commission may contribute to a deeper public understanding of the impact of child sexual abuse in schools on individuals and on Irish society more generally. The outcomes of the Survivor Engagement Programme will inform the Chair of the Commission’s report to the Minister for Education and Youth.

We understand that people taking part are likely to have experienced trauma. Trauma can affect how safe someone feels and how much they want to share. It can also affect trust and a person’s sense of control.

Because of this, the Survivor Engagement Programme is designed to be survivor-centred and to give you choice and control. It aims to help you feel safe and respected, and it offers different ways to take part depending on what feels right for you. You can decide what you want to share, how you share it, and when you want to stop.

The following principles are designed to support you as you take part:

• You are free to choose whether to take part.
• You decide how you want to take part and what feels most comfortable for you.
• You decide what you want to share and how much detail to give.
• You can take breaks, pause, or stop at any time.
• You can bring a person with you for support if that helps you feel more comfortable, or the Commission can provide someone from the Participation Support Service.
• You will be treated with respect, dignity, and without judgement.
• What you share will be handled with care and kept confidential. We may need to share critical information with Tusla if it indicates a current child protection risk.
• We recognise that everyone’s experience is different, and there is no right or wrong way to take part.
• Support will be available before, during, and after participation for those who wish to avail of it.
• Your identity and privacy will be protected in any report of the Survivor Engagement Programme or the Commission’s overall report.

We are committed to making the programme as accessible and inclusive as possible.

If you have specific needs or require a reasonable accommodation, you can contact our Participation Support Service and we will do our best to meet your needs.

This may include, for example, arranging Irish Sign Language interpretation, supporting the use of guide dogs or assistance animals, or making other adjustments to help you take part.