Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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19. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on concerns that there may be a serious gap in the extent of records available for persons going through the Magdalen redress scheme whereby those former residents who were not the legal responsibility of the institutions concerned; that is they did not come through the courts and under legislation they remained the legal responsibility of themselves or their parents-guardians, but who in all likelihood were institutionalised under duress and without their consent; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that such persons may not appear in official records; the way she proposes to tackle this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35383/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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770 applications have been received under the scheme and to date decisions have been made in 80% of the cases. Over €16m has been paid out under the scheme.

The situation regarding records was addressed in detail in the Report of the McAleese Committee and was well known when the decision to introduce a scheme was made.

The most extensive and detailed records of those who entered Magdalen laundries are those created by the religious congregations who operated the institutions in question. Those records were created on the basis of entry and were not dependent on the reason for entry or the legal status of the person concerned. However not all records for all the Magdalen laundries going back to the foundation of the State have survived.

There are very few State records that refer to a person's entry to a Magdalen laundry although there are more frequently State records of a more general nature which can serve to corroborate or otherwise, a person's presence in this type of institution.

In cases where the relevant religious congregation have incomplete or no record for an applicant, or where the applicants disagree with the records, my officials carry out a thorough examination, checking whatever records are available from other departments, agencies and institutions to support the claim. Each application is assessed on an individual basis taking into account any available records or documents as well as the applicant's testimony. The Deputy will also be aware that if the applicant disagrees with this assessment she can avail of an internal review process and also an independent appeal process which involves a review by Ombudsman's Office.