Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On 25 June 2013 the Government approved the immediate implementation of a cash lump sum payment scheme based on duration of stay in laundries as recommended by Mr. Justice Quirke and tasked an interdepartmental group with giving further detailed consideration to the steps necessary to implement the other recommendations made by him, which are complicated. I have already established a special unit to process applications and determine whether applicants resided and worked in an institution covered by the scheme, the duration of their stay and the calculation of the capital sum due to be paid to them. Over 540 applications have been received to date and are being processed.

Payments cannot commence until decisions have been made on the other recommendations. I expect to receive the report of the interdepartmental group later this week and I will then bring the matter back before Government for final decision. I expect the first offers of payments of a lump sum to issue within four to six weeks of the Government decision.

I met representatives of the four religious congregations concerned in June 2013 together with my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, to discuss a contribution from them to the scheme as recommended by Mr. Justice Quirke. Following reflection on the matter all four declined to make a contribution. The matter was discussed at government in July and after that discussion I wrote to the congregations expressing disappointment that they had decided not to make a financial contribution. I pointed out that the Government was of the view that the congregations have a moral obligation to do so and urged them to reconsider. Unfortunately, the congregations have since responded reaffirming their position.

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