A meeting that was due to take place today to help end a 44-day hunger strike outside Leinster House has been postponed.
Four survivors of industrial and reform schools who’ve been protesting since September 21st had been due to meet mediator Kieran Mulvey.
However, they say they’ve been told by the government that this meeting has now been moved to Wednesday.
Maurice Patton O’Connell, Miriam Moriarty Owens and Mary Donovan were child inmates of Pembroke Alms Industrial School in Tralee, while Mary Dunlevy Greene attended an industrial school in Limerick.
The group, who have been sleeping in a tent outside Leinster House, range in age from 57 to 73.
Their demands include the provision of Health Amendment Act (HAA) Cards that provide enhanced medical cover and a full state contributory pension to survivors of industrial and reform schools.
Last Wednesday, they met the Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Education Minister Helen McEntee, and it was agreed that the group would meet mediator Kieran Mulvey today.
However, this meeting has now been postponed until Wednesday.
Fianna Fáil TD Michael Cahill said the former residents of industrial and reform schools have made a very strong case to the Government for the need for compensation for the wrong done to them and the deputy said they must be listened to.
Deputy Cahill said it’s critical, for the protestors’ health, that the hunger strike is brought to an end.
