Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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151. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will indicate the eligibility for redress/compensation as part of the mother-and-baby homes redress scheme in the case of a person (details supplied); if he will outline the procedure to apply for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21907/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme will provide financial payments and health supports in the form of an enhanced medical card to eligible persons who spent time in Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions.

The Payment Scheme is designed to be non-adversarial and will not require applicants to bring forward evidence of abuse or harm suffered. It will consist of a general payment rising based on time spent in one of the institutions, so that those who suffered most from the harsh institutional conditions will receive the highest level of payment. Under the Scheme proposals, currently being considered in the Oireachtas, any person who was resident as a child in a Mother and Baby or County Home Institution for a period of six months or more will be eligible for a financial payment and an enhanced medical card. It is not possible to comment on eligibility in individual cases in advance of the Scheme being open and an application assessed in full in accordance with all eligibility criteria.

Details about the Scheme are available at www.gov.ie/paymentscheme. In advance of being opened for applications, the Scheme will be advertised extensively both nationally and abroad and detailed information on how to apply for it will be made available as part of this publicity campaign.

I am acutely aware of the sense of urgency surrounding the establishment of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme and I am focused on delivering it as soon as possible. The Payment Scheme Bill was passed by Dáil Éireann in February and has just completed second stage in the Seanad.

In parallel with the legislative process, work is well underway in my Department towards establishing the administrative structures necessary to deliver the Scheme. Subject to the legislation being enacted and these administrative structures being established, the Scheme will open for applications as soon as possible in 2023.