Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 October 2019
560. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if there were provisions in budget 2020 for survivors of mother and baby homes; if so, the details of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43236/19]
View answerThe 2020 budget allocation to my Department includes an indicative €3.9m to meet the costs of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and related activities. This allocation will support salaries, fees and other operational costs relating to the work of the independent Commission of Investigation, and the costs incurred by my Department in supporting this work and responding to its interim reports.
In addition, the budget allocation will also facilitate dialogue with former residents, through the work of the Collaborative Forum, which I established to enable former residents of these institutions to directly engage on the issues of concern to them and their families.
The Collaborative Forum has made a series of recommendations to Government, which I am progressing in partnership with my Government colleagues.
The working group set up by my colleague, the Minister for Health to progress health and well being supports for survivors, is finalising its deliberations with a focus on delivering tangible health measures as an initial response to the recommendations of the Forum’s first report.
On the basis of the Forum's work to date, I made a strong case to the Minister for Public Expenditure in the course of recent Budget discussions seeking additional funding to be made available. I am meeting with the Collaborative Forum in early November to update them on progress and I hope to make further announcements in relation to these matters in the coming weeks.
My Department is progressing specific measures in relation to research on language and terminology, memorialisation and statutory access to adoption information and tracing services, and I am satisfied that the resources available in 2020 will enable my department to further advance these measures.
