AQW 14725/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 10/09/2024
Answered On Date: 19/09/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail their plans to review the office of the Commissioner for Survivors of Institutional Childhood Abuse before the current commissioner’s role comes to an end.

Answer:

The HIA (NI) Act 2019 requires us to commission an independent person to review the operation of COSICA and produce a report which includes an assessment of whether there continues to be a need for the Commissioner.

We have appointed Professor Alexis Jay as the independent assessor to conduct the review, which is now underway. Professor Jay is working to Terms of Reference that were agreed following feedback from COSICA. Following some initial desk-based work, it is intended that Professor Jay will commence meetings with relevant stakeholders from October 2024, with a final report being submitted by the end of December 2024.