Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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423. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the definition of an enhanced medical card; the services it will cover for those that have suffered in mother and baby homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56028/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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As part of its response to the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation, the Government committed to establishing a Restorative Recognition Scheme for survivors of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions. An Interdepartmental Group (IDG) was established to develop detailed proposals for the Scheme. The IDG’s Terms of Reference stated that the Scheme will entail two broad dimensions:

- It will provide restorative recognition payments which take account of the recommendations of the Commission relating to redress (but which may not be solely limited to those recommendations).

- It will provide, as agreed by Government, a form of enhanced medical card, i.e., eligibility for a tailored suite of health services similar to those provided to former residents of Magdalen Laundries, to everyone who was resident in a Mother and Baby Home or County Home for a period of six months or more.

I intend to bring proposals on the Scheme to Cabinet this week. Once proposals for the Scheme are approved by Government, I will publish them immediately.

Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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424. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the date and month the enhanced medical cards will be issued to the survivors of the mother and baby institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56029/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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As part of its response to the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation, the Government committed to establishing a Restorative Recognition Scheme for survivors of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions. This Scheme will include a financial payment and a form of enhanced medical card.

An Interdepartmental Group (IDG) was set up to develop detailed proposals for the Scheme. The work of the IDG has been guided by a human rights focus and informed by consultation with survivors which took place during March and April, with a very strong response received to that consultation process.

I intend to bring proposals on the Scheme to Cabinet this week. It is not possible to provide further details on the Scheme in advance of proposals being agreed by Government but once they are approved, I will publish them immediately. My Department will also continue with the significant work necessary, and already in progress, to establish this Scheme and make it available for applications in 2022.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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425. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of, and position regarding, the mother and baby homes redress scheme; if an update will be provided on his engagement with survivor groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56106/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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As part of its response to the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation, the Government committed to establishing a Restorative Recognition Scheme for survivors of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions. This Scheme will include a financial payment and a form of enhanced medical card.

An Interdepartmental Group (IDG) was set up to develop detailed proposals for the Scheme. The work of the IDG was guided by a human rights focus and informed by consultation with survivors and survivor groups.

I intend to bring proposals on the Scheme to Cabinet this week. Once proposals for the Scheme are approved by Government, I will publish them immediately. My Department will also continue with the significant work necessary and already in progress to establish this Scheme and make it available for applications as soon as possible in 2022.