Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 June 2014
130. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will ensure that there are no additional delays or interruptions on the Magdalen implementation plan especially by supporting the completion of pending legislation and the expeditious payment of pensions. [24948/14]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that significant progress has been made on the implementation of the Magdalen Scheme. Within my own Department, a unit of 9 officials is working full time on engaging with the women and processing applications. To date, 346 women have been paid their lump sums at a cost of €12.4m.
In addition to the lump sum payment each woman is entitled to a top up payment to bring her weekly income from the State to €230.30 if aged 66 or over and €100 if under that age. The Department of Social Protection is establishing a separate scheme in order to give effect to this recommendation. I have been informed that this scheme will be in place in the next couple of weeks and that the eligible women will receive written notification from that Department before their payments issue. The payments will be backdated to the 1st August 2013 so the women will not be at a loss.
As the Deputy will be aware, legislation relating to taxation issues has already been addressed. It was agreed by Government that my Department would coordinate legislation to implement Judge Quirke's other recommendations where legislation is required. The Bill will include measures to deal with:
(a) the provision of medical and other services, and
(b) provision that payments made under the Scheme should not be taken into account for assessment purposes under the Nursing Home Support Scheme,
and
(c) provisions to protect vulnerable women in the context of the scheme.
A Scheme of the Bill has now been drafted by my Department in consultation with the Department of Health. The Scheme of the Bill will be considered by Government shortly and I anticipate that the Government will approve the drafting of the Bill at that stage. With the cooperation of the Oireachtas, I expect that the Bill will have a reasonably speedy progress towards enactment.
