Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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82. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if Magdalen laundry survivors' ex gratia scheme applications from within the UK have to go through the Irish Women Survivors Support Network or if they can be made directly to her Department. [44368/14]

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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83. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the relationship between her Department and the Irish Women Survivors Support Network in relation to ex gratia scheme applications. [44369/14]

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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84. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the way Magdalen laundry survivors' ex gratia scheme applications from within the UK are processed; and if her Department communicates with the survivors directly or through the Irish Women Survivors Support Network. [44370/14]

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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85. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the parameters that have been set down for the Irish Women Survivors Support Network with regard to the operation of the Magdalen laundry survivors ex gratia scheme, particularly in relation to establishing duration of stay. [44371/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 to 85, inclusive, together.

The Irish Women Survivors Support Network have no formal role in the ex gratia scheme. All applications are processed by the Department. No parameters have been set down for the Irish Women Survivors Support Network with regard to the operation of the scheme.

I understand that the Irish Women Survivors Support Network do assist some women in the completion of their application forms and in 2 of the 158 cases from women residing in the UK , applicants have authorised the Irish Women Survivors Support Network to deal with correspondence relating to their application on their behalf.

In addition to the above contact, the Irish Women Survivors Support Network were active in campaigning on behalf of women now residing in the UK who had been a Magdalen Laundry and interacted with the Department in that context.

On the 19 February 2013, the Government decided that a payment of €250,000 should be made to the UK based Irish Women Survivors Support Network (IWSSN) to enable them to continue to provide support, advice and assistance to women survivors of Irish institutions including women who were in Magdalen laundries. That payment was made and details announced by the Minister for Justice and Equality in December 2013.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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86. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Magdalen laundry survivors that have settled for less time than they have claimed for, broken down by country of residence. [44372/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The processing of all applications starts off on the premise that the testimony of the applicant is correct and my officers processing the application then seek to verify the application by checking appropriate records. If there are records and they are consistent with the application, then an offer is made.

If there is a discrepancy, or in cases where the religious congregations have incomplete or no record for an applicant my officials must carry out a thorough examination, checking whatever records are available from other departments, agencies and institutions to support the application. The records of the religious congregations are not regarded as decisive, they are just one factor that is taken into consideration.

Each applicant is assessed on an individual basis, by my officials in the Restorative Justice Implementation Unit, taking into account any available records, documents and statements including the applicant's testimony. If the applicant disagrees with the Reviewer's decision she may request an independent review by the Ombudsman's office.

To date, 18 of the 665 applications on which a decision has been made, which is less than 3% have requested their case to be reviewed by the Ombudsman's Office. Of these 18 cases, 2 reside in the UK, 1 in the USA and the remaining cases were from applicants residing in Ireland. To date, the Ombudsman has upheld the decision of my officers in 14 cases and decisions are awaited on the remaining 4 cases.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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87. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the appeals process in place for UK survivors of Magdalen laundries who have been offered less than they are entitled to, or who have had their applications rejected; and if appeals are processed through the Irish Women Survivors Support Network or directly with her Department/the Ombudsman's office. [44373/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Each application is assessed on an individual basis, by my officials in the Restorative Justice Implementation Unit, taking into account any available records, documents and statements including the applicant's testimony. If the applicant disagrees with this assessment, regardless of her country of residence, she can, in the first instance, seek a review of her case by a senior officer. If the applicant disagrees with the Reviewer's decision she can request an independent review by the Ombudsman's Office. The Irish Women Survivor’s Support Network have no role in determining appeals although they may provide support to the woman making an appeal.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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88. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide details of the complaints mechanism in place for survivors who have grievances with the Irish Women Survivors Support Network. [44374/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Irish Women Survivors Support Network is a UK based, independent, not for profit company limited by guarantee. They provide support, advice and assistance to women survivors of Irish institutions including women who were in Magdalen laundries. Although they may assist women in their applications, they have no formal role in the scheme of benefits for women who were admitted and resided in Magdalen laundries.

If a person has a grievance with that body, he or she should raise the matter directly with the body concerned. The Department of Justice and Equality has no responsibility or role in determining grievances involving that body.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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89. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Magdalen laundry survivors ex gratia scheme applications received by her Department through the Irish Women Survivors Support Network. [44375/14]

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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90. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of UK Magdalen laundry survivors ex gratia scheme applications that have been received by her Department independently of the Irish Women Survivors Support Network. [44376/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 90 together.

158 applications have been received to the Magdalen Laundries Ex Gratia Scheme from women who are now residing in the UK.

Each application is dealt with on an individual basis and my officials correspond directly with the applicant in all cases except where the applicant specifically authorises another person to act on her behalf.

I have been informed that, of the 158 applicants in the UK, 2 have authorised the Irish Women Survivors Support Network to deal with correspondence relating to their application on their behalf.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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91. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she has knowledge of the accounts audit for the €250k given to the Irish Women Survivor’s Support Network on the night of the Magdalene apology; the percentage of this funding that is dedicated to Magdalene survivors; if this funding has been renewed in the most recent budget; and if the Government are continuing to fund, and at what level, the Irish Women Survivor’s Support Network for the current year. [44377/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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On 19th February 2013, the Government agreed on the payment of €250,000 to the Irish Women Survivors Support Network (IWSSN) to enable them to continue to provide support, advice and assistance to women survivors of Irish Institutions including women who were in the Magdalen Laundries and who are now residing in the UK.

To facilitate good governance, the IWSSN registered as a not for profit Company Limited by Guarantee and an agreement was entered into to route the funding through Voluntary Action Camden, a long standing registered Charity which supports, develops and promotes voluntary and community groups.

The once off payment of €250,000 which was made in December 2013 was subject to a number of conditions including the requirement to submit financial statements of the IWSSN with the report of an independent examiner every year that the fund was in existence.

The Report and Financial Statements of the IWSSN for year ended 31st March 2014 were submitted to my Department in June 2014.

No further funding has been allocated to the IWSSN by my Department.