Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 April 2025
135. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to report on her engagement with religious organisations regarding redress for survivors of abuse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20963/25]
View answer137. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps she will take to compel religious organisations, who have not done so to date, to pay meaningful redress for survivors of abuse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20962/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 137 together.
The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes made significant findings in relation to the failings of the State and religious organisations, who together ran Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions. The Government believes that all relevant parties have a collective responsibility to respond to Ireland's legacy in relation to these institutions. The State has accepted its own responsibility by apologising to survivors of these institutions and also setting up the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme.
My predecessor put in place a process to seek a financial contribution towards the cost of the Payment Scheme from those religious bodies identified by the Commission as being associated with Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions. Earlier this month I published the report I received on the process.
Since I published the report, I have written to the religious organisations involved. I formally accepted the one monetary offer made and confirmed my interest in assessing the other offer received, that of a working premises, as a first step. To the other organisations I formally expressed my disappointment and called on them to reflect further on their willingness to make a meaningful contribution to the Payment Scheme.
I have also asked my officials to liaise with the Office of the Attorney General to consider if any further options are available to the State in this regard.
