Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 November 2013
76. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the way in which he envisages that payments will begin to be paid to the women of the Magdalen laundries as part of the redress process in view of the recent passing of another Magdalen survivor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45958/13]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that on the 25th June 2013 the Government approved the implementation of a cash lump sum payments scheme based on duration of stay in Laundries as recommended by Mr Justice Quirke. The Government also tasked an Inter-Departmental Group with giving further detailed consideration to the steps necessary to implement the other recommendations made by Mr Justice Quirke, some of which are complicated and will require legislation.
My Department established a special unit to process applications and to determine whether an applicant resided and worked in an institution covered by the scheme, the duration of their stay, and the calculation of the capital sum due to be paid to them. Over 600 applications have been received to date and are being processed.
The Report of the Interdepartmental Group was discussed and agreed at Cabinet this morning and the full details in respect of implementation of the Scheme will published over the next few days. In cases where application forms have been completed and records verified, I expect that my Department will be in a position to issue the first offers of payments of a lump sum within the next 4 to 6 weeks.
