Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 March 2021
1094. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions his Department has taken in regard to legal claims being taken by survivors of mother and baby homes. [15326/21]
View answerWhen publishing the Final Report of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation on 12 January 2021, the Government announced a comprehensive action plan to respond to the needs of the former residents of these institutions.
A key element of the action plan is a commitment to establish a Restorative Recognition Scheme to provide financial recognition and a form of enhanced medical card. An Interdepartmental Group (IDG) has been established to develop proposals on the scope and operation of a Scheme. This work will be informed by the Commission's recommendations on redress but is not necessarily limited to the specific categories identified by the Commission. In addition, my Department launched a facilitated public consultation process on 10 March with information circulated through our contacts list and a significant print and social media campaign. The Government has prioritised this deliberative process with an ambitious timeframe for completion.
This ongoing work should help to ensure that those who should be entitled to Restorative Recognition can access financial and other reparations without needing to pursue claims through the courts system, although the State recognises the absolute right for individuals to do so.
I understand that correspondence has been received from solicitors acting on behalf of a number of survivors of Mother and Baby Homes. The State Claims Agency is statutorily delegated with responsibility for the management of such litigation and my officials are engaging with the State Claims Agency on these matters. I understand that legal representatives are, in many cases, seeking assurance that the particular circumstances of their clients will be included within any scheme that may be established by Government. In this regard, the deliberations of the IDG are ongoing and I will bring the proposals which emerge to Government as soon as practicable.
