A Ballybunion man, who was abused and exploited while boarded out to a farm in Kerry as a child, hopes the Taoiseach's apology is the start of something meaningful.
Boarding out was a system where children, mainly between the 1920s and 1970s, were placed with foster families instead of being raised in institutions.
It began under the Poor Law Amendment Act 1862 and continued until it was replaced by modern foster care under the Child Care Act 1991.
Although it was meant to provide a caring family home, some children were used for unpaid labour, kept out of school to work, or experienced neglect.
On Wednesday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, issued a formal state apology to survivors of institutional abuse, including those boarded out.
Long-time campaigner James Sugrue from Ballybunion, believes that around 5,000 survivors are still alive:
James Sugrue expressed hope for a meeting with Minister Norma Foley to discuss their demands, but criticised the lack of a concrete redress scheme.
