Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The question of including Bethany Home within the scope of the redress scheme was originally considered in 2004 and was rejected by the Department of Education and Science as there was no evidence of a public body having a regulatory or inspection function.

In May 2007, the Department of Health and Children contacted that Department to advise that papers had come to light which indicated a State regulatory and inspection role. These papers related to its inspection under the Registration of Maternity Homes Act 1934. There was another reference on the papers held by the Department of Health and Children to "Bethany Mother and Baby Home". The Department concluded that as Bethany Home operated as a mother and baby home it was not eligible to be considered for inclusion in the redress scheme.

In October 2009, a former resident of Bethany Home drew the Department's attention to a notation on the maternity home's inspection report on the home in 1939 which stated that the home also operated as a children's home for those up to three years of age.

Deputy Costello of the Labour Party tabled a parliamentary question in December 2009 requesting the inclusion of Bethany Home in the redress scheme. In response, the Minister stated that the issue of including the home had been previously considered and it was decided that it should not be included. He advised that the Department was examining further information submitted to it in relation to the home together with a renewed request for its inclusion, and that the examination would be completed as soon as possible.

At the same time, there was a range of demands for the redress scheme to be extended to other categories such as psychiatric hospitals, Magdalene laundries, foster care, and mother and baby homes. While the possible inclusion of the Bethany Home could have been examined on the grounds that it operated as a children's home, other institutions such as psychiatric hospitals could equally have been considered and the Government decided against extending the redress scheme.

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