Vol. 548 No. 2
459 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will ensure that the compensation scheme, contributed to by the Church authorities, for the victims of institutional abuse will extend to those who were placed in the so-called Magdalene laundries; and, if not, the reason therefor. [4621/02]
Under the Residential Institutions Redress Bill, 2001, financial awards will be made to people who as children were resident in residential institutions for which the State had regulatory or supervisory responsibility. These awards will be in respect of injuries suffered as a result of abuse inflicted upon them while resident in the institutions. During the debate on the Bill in this House and in committee, it was proposed that its scope be extended to include those who suffered abuse in a number of other institutions, including Magdalene laundries. The laundries differ substantially from the institutions now covered by the Bill in that the residents concerned were for the most part adults and the laundries were entirely private institutions, in respect of which public bodies had no functions. On Committee Stage I undertook to consider the arguments raised further and to report back to the House on Report Stage. Report Stage is now scheduled for 20 February.
