Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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181. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the efforts that will be made to include those persons who were detained in the Magdalen laundries or mother and baby homes and who are dissatisfied with the redress scheme; if the proposed meeting will be confined to those who contacted the Ombudsman; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18600/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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To date 691 applicants have received redress amounting to €25.9m in lump sums under the Magdalen Restorative Justice Ex-gratia Scheme. In addition, qualifying applicants receive additional benefits under the Scheme which include an enhanced medical card from the HSE and 'top up' pension payments from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.

I recently informed the House that I had carefully considered the Ombudsman's November 2017 report on the administration of the scheme by my Department and that I had held constructive discussions with him on my plans to implement the recommendations in his report. I have also briefed my Cabinet colleagues on these plans.

In relation to the four recommendations in the Ombudsman's report, the following is the position:

- Where there is a dispute in respect of length of stay in a Magdalen Institution, Ms. Mary O'Toole S.C. has been appointed to review these cases.

- Ms O'Toole S.C. will also advise on assistance to be given to applicants who lack capacity to accept an award.

- The reviews recommended by the Ombudsman in regard to eligibility of cases of women who worked in one of the institutions covered by the Scheme but who were officially recorded as having been "admitted to" a training centre or industrial school located in the same building, attached to or located on the grounds of one of the laundries will be taken forward following a brief scoping review by an interdepartmental group, chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach.

- The recommendation to establish guidance on the development and operation of redress schemes will be examined in consultation with Government colleagues, including the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs has responsibility for the on-going Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes. The Third Interim Report of that Commission was published on 5 December 2017 with its final reports due to be completed by February 2019.