Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 October 2022
288. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the Mother and Baby Institutions payment scheme will be extended to those who spent less than the prescribed time period of six months in an institution given that many persons have been excluded from the scheme on this basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52490/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn answering this question, it is important to note that the Scheme is one element of a comprehensive package of support measures agreed by the Government to respond to the priority needs of survivors and former residents as part of the Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions.
Following intense deliberations on what are very complex issues, the proposals developed for the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme went beyond the recommendations of the Commission of Investigation. The Scheme will stand in recognition of time spent, harsh conditions, emotional abuse and all other forms of harm, mistreatment, stigma and trauma experienced while resident in a Mother and Baby or County Home Institution. The graduated payment rates under the Scheme proportionately acknowledge the more prolonged experience of harsh institutional conditions which were endured by those who spent longer periods of time in these institutions.
In relation to children who spent less than six months in an institution and who were adopted or otherwise separated from their birth family, the overwhelming priority need which has been expressed, through extensive engagement with those concerned, is access to records. So for those children who spent short periods of time in an institution during their infancy, the Action Plan provides a response to their needs in the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 and the investment which has been made available to support implementation of this legislation. The legislation provides guaranteed access to birth certificates, as well as wider birth and early life information for those who have questions in relation to their origins. It also supports contact and family reunion, where that is the wish of both parties, by means of the new statutory tracing service and Contact Preference Register.
It should also be underlined that free counselling support has been in place since before the publication of the Commission’s report, through the National Counselling Service in the HSE. This is free of charge, includes out of hours support and those who identify themselves as survivors of the institutions are prioritised for the next available counselling space. Counselling support is also being provided to survivors, former residents and adopted persons by Barnardos, Tusla and AAI under the auspices of the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022.
