Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Residential Institutions Redress Scheme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 February 2019

Thursday, 21 February 2019

Ceisteanna (187, 188)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

187. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason she has refused to address the recommendation by the commission on mother and baby homes that a facility (details supplied) should have been included in the residential institutions redress scheme. [8841/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Clare Daly

Ceist:

188. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way in which she plans to deal with the redress needs of the ageing mother and baby home survivors who told their stories to the commission in 2015 in view of the decision to extend the timescale of the commission by a further year. [8842/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 187 and 188 together.

When the Ryan Report was published in 2009 there were a number of calls for the Residential Institutions Redress Act to be extended to include additional institutions, including the Bethany Home.

As the Deputy will be aware, my colleague the Minister for Education and Skills is responsible for the Redress Act legislation and related arrangements and that the scheme has been closed to new applications since 2011. Eligibility for the scheme has been reviewed on a number of occasions and it has not been extended to any additional institution since 2005.

In its 2nd Interim Report the Commission suggested that eligibility for the Redress Scheme be re-examined. I raised this over a period of weeks with government colleagues. and the Attorney General. Subsequent to those discussions, the Government decided not to extend the scheme.

The Commission had made no findings to date regarding abuse or neglect, within Mother and Baby Homes, including the Bethany Home, and colleagues believed it would not be appropriate to deal with the question of redress in advance of any conclusions by the Commission.

At that time, the Government made a further decision that in light of the Commission's commentary, consideration would be given to provide supports to former residents.

It was on this basis that I established the Collaborative Forum of former residents, and Bethany Home survivors are represented in the membership. The Forum has produced a report that includes a series of recommendations on matters of priority to them and their families.

I will be bringing the report to Cabinet shortly to facilitate its detailed consideration by Government.

Barr
Roinn