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National Advocacy Service

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2020

Tuesday, 16 June 2020

Questions (342)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

342. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons referred to the National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities by his Department who were and are in the care of a religious order in the past 20 years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10882/20]

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Written answers

My Department has responsibility for the Magdalen Restorative Justice Implementation Unit, which was established to administer the Magdalen Ex-Gratia Scheme. This involves the processing of applications to the Scheme, the payment of the ex-gratia awards to eligible applicants and the transmission of relevant details to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection for the calculation of pension entitlements and to the HSE for the issue of the Medical Card. The Unit also makes every effort to assist applicants who make contact seeking referrals to other State services.

While the Unit maintains a database of all applicants to the scheme, applicants do not typically maintain contact with the Unit once their applications have been processed, nor are they obliged to do so.  For that reason, my Department does not hold current contact details of places of residence for all applicants or indeed where people were resident over the last 20 years.  My Department has not referred any women to the National Advocacy Service (NAS). I am aware that some women when making their applications to the scheme have availed of the services provided by the NAS to assist with their applications.

I would note that my Department has no responsibility for the National Advocacy Service, which is funded by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.  I similarly have no role in relation to the management or oversight of nursing homes. However, I have asked my officials to contact the National Advocacy Service over the coming days to determine whether my Department can provide any assistance in relation to this matter.

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