Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 December 2021
455. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the eligibility for redress and compensation as part of the mother and baby homes redress scheme in the case of a person (details supplied); the procedure to apply for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62427/21]
View answerProposals for the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme were agreed by Government and published on 16 November 2021. The Scheme will include financial payments and a form of enhanced medical card for eligible applicants and will be based on proof of residency in a Mother and Baby or County Home Institution for a defined period of time.
According to the proposals for the Scheme, any person who was resident as a child in a Mother and Baby or County Home Institution for a period of six months or more (and who did not receive redress in respect of that institution under the Residential Institutions Redress Scheme) will be eligible for a financial payment and an enhanced medical card. As mentioned, eligibility is based on proof of residency and it is the intention that the payment will rise based on the time spent in an institution. Full details of the proposals for the Scheme, including a table which sets out the payment rates agreed by Government for inclusion in the Scheme, can be found on my Department’s website (www.gov.ie/en/publication/0c637-mother-and-baby-institutions-payment-scheme/).
I have been given Government approval to bring forward legislative proposals on the basis of the agreed proposals and work has commenced in my Department on the Heads of Bill required to establish the Scheme. Once the legislation has been passed by the Oireachtas and the necessary preparatory work has been completed, the Scheme will be open for applications. I hope that this will be possible by the end of 2022.
