Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)

I thank the Minister and thank her officials for what they have provided before today and for being here this evening.

First, in relation to the mother and baby home scheme payment, it is deeply disappointing to see another underspend this year, similar to last year. In the report that was published in June of this year by the special advocate, she has done her job in terms of the clear failures in the scheme, the six-month rule and the exclusion of a number of institutions. I have referenced Michael Grant, who was in Temple Hill. His mother paid five shillings a month for him to remain there for almost the first year of his life. I do not know how it is not deemed to be one of the institutions. Is the Minister looking at the recommendations by the special advocate? If you are experiencing abuse, whether you experience it for a month, five months, six months or six years, that six-month rule, which I have never understood, is wrong. When we are handing money back, now is the time to look and see how many more of those survivors can be supported. It is deeply regrettable that they have been disregarded as they have. The Minister should take the opportunity to do right by them in terms of this payment scheme, which, to them, is a very small amount. Many of them are in their later years. The recommendations made in that report should be considered carefully. Is that work under way?