Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022

Thursday, 8 September 2022

Questions (1257, 1258, 1259, 1260, 1261)

Kathleen Funchion

Question:

1257. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will confirm the approved €800 million of expenditure over the life cycle of the mother and baby homes redress scheme; the estimated amount that will be required to be provided in 2023; the estimated amount that can be accommodated within the existing expenditure ceiling of his Department; and the estimated amount of additional new measures monies that would need to be provided for 2023 in the Estimates. [43699/22]

Kathleen Funchion

Question:

1258. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is any provision for mother and baby scheme redress already in the base; and if so, the amount. [43700/22]

Kathleen Funchion

Question:

1259. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount that will be required in 2023 for the mother and baby homes redress scheme due to uncertainties on timing of the relevant Bill, and establishment of offices; the estimated amount of funding that may be required for the proposed scheme in 2023 based upon the costings produced by the interdepartmental group and if the scheme were to open to applicants at 31 March, 30 June and 30 September or in December 2023 respectively. [43701/22]

Kathleen Funchion

Question:

1260. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will confirm if table 9 on page 81 of the interdepartmental group report on the development of the mother and baby institutions payments scheme November 2021 is the closest costing model to the proposed scheme. [43702/22]

Kathleen Funchion

Question:

1261. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide a multi-annual table for the proposed mother and baby homes redress scheme containing the same or similar information to that contained in the range of tables on pages 77 through 84 of the interdepartmental group report. [43703/22]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1257 to 1261, inclusive, together.

The Government has approved a package of €800 million for the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme and a breakdown of these estimated costs is set out at Chapter 5, Table 9 in the 'Final Report of the Interdepartmental Group (IDG) on the development of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme', November 2021. This table sets out the estimated year on year cost of the scheme from Year 0 to Year 5, with Year 0 representing start-up costs relating to the establishment of the Executive Office to administer the scheme and Year 1 being the first year of operation. Work is underway with a view to opening the Scheme as soon as possible.

Funding has been provided in Budget 2022 to cover the estimated setup (Year 0) costs for the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme. The funding to be provided in 2023 for the Scheme is a matter for discussion in budget negotiations, therefore, it is not possible at this time to provide any information with regard to the financial provision for the scheme next year. The Interdepartmental Group estimated costs of €313 million for the Scheme in its first year of operation, the bulk of this expenditure (over 90%) will be incurred on financial payments and providing the enhanced medical card. These costs were also  anticipating that 50% of potential applicants will apply to the Scheme in the first year of operation.

Question No. 1258 answered with Question No. 1257.

Question No. 1259 answered with Question No. 1257.

Question No. 1260 answered with Question No. 1257.

Question No. 1261 answered with Question No. 1257.