Written answers

Wednesday, 20 January 2021

Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Photo of Jennifer WhitmoreJennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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384. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of calls made by survivors of mother and baby homes to support services, including mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2890/21]

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My Department has established a dedicated telephone information line available for people seeking further information about the Commission of Investigation's Final Report. The Department’s information line can be contacted on 01-6473200 from Monday to Friday 9.30am to 6pm or via email at motherandbabyhomes@equality.gov.ie

Between publication of the Report and close of business on 18th January, my Department received 267 calls to the information line and 580 emails to the dedicated mailbox. My officials are working through these contacts to address the questions and requests received from survivors and other stakeholders.

The specific information requested by the Deputy on contacts to mental health services is not readily available to my Department. As these health services are funded by the Department of Health, that department may be able to source the information from the Health Service Executive.

Photo of Jennifer WhitmoreJennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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385. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a redress scheme for survivors of mother and baby homes will be put in place; the steps his Department will take; the position regarding the overall strategic action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2891/21]

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Commission has made clear recommendations in relation to redress on the basis of its extensive 5-year investigation. Notably, the Commission identifies three specific groups for whom it recommends redress might be considered.

The Government has made a very significant and early commitment to accept these recommendations and design a bespoke Restorative Recognition Scheme. An Inter-Departmental Group (IDG), to be led by my Department, will now commence the detailed work to scope the terms and conditions for the scheme. My Secretary General will Chair the IDG and nominations are being sought from relevant departments and agencies. The IDG will examine the three specific groups identified by the Commission, but is not restricted to these.

My Department will lead work on the development of a Strategic Action Plan to advance each of the 22 commitments made by Government in its response to the Commission's report.

It is intended that the scheme will be designed as quickly as possible in 2021. The IDG is tasked with reporting by the end of April to enable specific proposals to be brought to Government.

With regard to the overall Action Plan, the Government has committed to developing a comprehensive Action Plan spanning 22 measures across a number of themes, as follows:

- A survivor-centred approach

- Apology

- Access to Personal Information

- Archiving and Databases

- Education and Research

- Memorialisation

- Restorative Recognition

Clearly, this is a hugely important process for all connected to these institutions. For this reason, I am committed to a survivor-centred approach and I will be working with colleagues and survivors to advance these matters as a priority.

Photo of Jennifer WhitmoreJennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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386. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the additional resources put in place to deal with GDPR requests related to survivors of mother and baby homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2892/21]

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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In relation to GDPR requests following the transfer of the Commission's databases and records, the Department is working intensively to ensure that it is properly resourced to handle subject access requests from possibly very large numbers of people who were resident in mother and baby homes. In this regard, a new Unit has been established to look after this hugely important and potentially significant volume of work.

There is a considerable amount of work including from an ICT perspective to enable the transfer of the Commission's databases and records. Furthermore, there is considerable preparatory work being undertaken to establish systems and procedures to prepare for the potentially large number of subject access requests which may be made and to ensure that they can be managed in a timely and effective manner. This involves the engagement of suitable in-house expertise, consultation with the Attorney General and the Data Protection Commission.

Department officials are dedicating significant efforts to ensuring the Department is prepared for the transfer of the archives and for the handling of subject access requests in compliance with data protection law.

Photo of Jennifer WhitmoreJennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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387. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the timeline of the appointment for an archivist in relation to mother and baby homes; the steps his Department is taking to facilitate this appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2893/21]

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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As part of our response to the recommendations of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby homes, my Department has begun the process to recruit a qualified archivist, to lead work on preservation of, and public access to, the records which we hold. The closing date for receipt of applications was 15 January and it is expected that an appointment will be made very soon following the closure of the competition.

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