Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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569. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the plan to pay redress to the survivors of mother and baby homes who satisfy the existing criteria; whether he plans to expand the criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22640/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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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 recently completed second stage in the Seanad. I do not intend to bring forward amendments to broaden the eligibility criteria for the Scheme.

In parallel with the legislative process, work is 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.

Details on how the Scheme will operate are available on my department's website at -

www.gov.ie/paymentscheme.