Survivors of industrial and reformatory schools are on their 12th day of a hunger strike outside the Dáil.
The four protestors, who range in age from 57 to 73, have been sleeping in a tent outside Leinster House.
They say they won’t stop and will continue until their contributory pension and medical card demands are met.
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.
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.
Maurice Patton O’Connell and Mary Donovan says they are all in good spirits and have been getting a boost from members of the public who’ve visited their tent.
The protestors praised Presidential candidate and Independent TD Catherine Connolly as well as Kerry Fianna Fáil TD Michael Cahill for the support they’ve given them since they first began their hunger strike.
The group met the Minister for Education Helen McEntee this week and Mr O’Connell says they were told there were no plans to meet their demands.
They say they'll remain on hunger strike until they get assurances but will continue to engage with the Government.
The Department of Education says the State has responded to survivors' needs in a number of ways including establishing a redress scheme and providing funding supports.
It says new health and education supports will also be rolled out shortly.
