Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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152. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the total number of applications received for compensation from the Magdalene fund; the number and amounts paid out to date and the length of time it will take to process each application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5893/14]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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To date, 680 applications have been received under the ex gratia scheme which was established by Government for the benefit of those women who were admitted to and worked in the Magdalen Laundries, St Mary's Training Centre, Stanhope Street and House of Mercy Training School, Summerhill, Wexford. The applications are being processed as quickly as possible and over 280 letters of formal offer have issued to women at this stage. As soon as an applicant accepts the offer, payment will be processed quickly. So far, 144 women have accepted the formal offer and as at the end of January payments issued to over 100 applicants totalling €3.5 million.

I am also informed that letters of provisional assessment were issued to a further 32 applicants and if they agree with the provisional assessment with regard to their length of time in a relevant institution they will be issued with a letter of formal offer. The remaining applications require further investigation before a decision can be made on their length of stay in a relevant institution. In cases where the religious have no clear record, my officials will have to carry out a thorough examination checking whatever records are available to see if they support the claim. The applicant will also be asked to provide any relevant information that could corroborate her claim that she was in a specific institution for a period of time.