Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for setting out matters comprehensively there. It is somewhat disappointing that it appears that we may not have a scheme up and running and paying out as envisaged this year. The Minister committed to having it in place and fully functioning in 2023. I accept this is complex, but it should not be. The scheme was designed not to be complex in itself and, as the Minister of State said, not adversarial.

I have some issues of concern with the Minister of State's response. First, I note the scheme will be delayed, but it is coming. People have waited a long time. It is only a matter of months and I suppose we have to take some encouragement from that.

Second, I would have a concern about online applications. Many of the people who grew up in these institutions left formal education between the ages of 12 and 14, not by their own choice. They have numeracy and literacy issues. More importantly, they have their own pride and their dignity in wishing their business to remain confidential. They may not wish to avail of or seek a third party to assist them in filling an online form. I would have an issue with that. The Minister of State might bring that back as a sensitive concern.

Finally, I would ask that the Minister would keep us, the Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas who passed this legislation, briefed. Certainly, I would like to think for the next three months that we would have a monthly update as to progress on the scheme we, as legislators, passed into law and expect the Executive to fully implement.