Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 March 2015
476. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of liaison officers that will be employed to assist the Magdalen laundries survivors in understanding their entitlements; and if the liaison officers will operate centrally from her Department or on a local basis. [11586/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware a Dedicated Unit was set up in my Department to process applications and to make lump sum payments. Officials in the Dedicated Unit also provide assistance and advice to the applicants on any aspect of the Scheme in a helpful and sensitive manner.
Priority has been given to processing applications, providing cash payments and other benefits to the women. To date, a decision has been made on 88% of the applications received and 512 women have been paid their lump sums at a cost of over €18.7m.
The women are also receiving top up pension type payments which are being paid by the Department of Social Protection. That Department appointed dedicated contact people to whom the women can discuss their entitlement with in confidence.
The Redress for Women who were in Certain Institutions Bill 2014 which was passed by the Oireachtas earlier this month will provide the women with free access to medical services. There is no provision in the Bill for the appointment of liaison officers and there was no such provision in the Health (Amendment) Act 1996, which provides for persons affected by Hepatitis C. However, I understand that once the Bill is commenced there will be liaison people in the HSE to assist the women concerned.
