Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 February 2024
465. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if it will be possible for a person to apply for the mother and baby institutions payment scheme if their relative who was the deceased relevant person died prior to 13 January 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9330/24]
View answerThe Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme will be the largest scheme of its type in the history of the State with an anticipated 34,000 people eligible for its benefits. Given its scale and significance the Scheme has been placed on a statutory footing and enabling legislation - the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023 - was signed into law last July.
Section 37 of the Act provides that the personal representative of a deceased relevant person, who died on or after 13 January 2021, can apply to the Scheme. This was the date of the then Taoiseach's apology to survivors of these institutions on behalf of the State, ultimately launching a comprehensive package of support measures (of which the Payment Scheme is just one) agreed by the Government as part of the Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions.
