Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 November 2013
811. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason the laundry at St. Joseph's in Clifden, County Galway, was not included in the Magdalen laundry list for the purposes of the redress scheme; if he will acknowledge that St. Joseph's laundry, Clifden, was a Magdalen laundry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46722/13]
View answerThe McAleese report and the ex-gratia Scheme recommended by Mr Justice Quirke relate to the 10 Magdalen laundries that operated within the State. As an exceptional measure, the Government decided that the women from two other institutions who had, from an early stage, participated in the representative groups and met with Ministers and others on this matter should also be included. No other institutions are being included within the scheme.
With regard to St. Joseph's Clifden, I am satisfied that this institution was not a Magdalen laundry. It was an industrial school for girls and junior boys and is listed in the schedule of relevant institutions under the Residential Institutions Redress Act, 2002.
