Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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420. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the timeline he is working towards for providing enhanced medical cards to mother-and-baby-home survivors; if this will be commenced immediately after the legislation is signed into law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23803/23]

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 the Scheme as soon as possible. The legislation for the Payment Scheme was passed by Dáil Éireann in February and commenced Committee Stage in the Seanad on 16th May.

The other important element to allow for the opening of the Scheme is the establishment of an independent Executive Office to administer it. Intensive preparatory work is underway in my Department to establish this Office. Subject to the legislation being passed and enacted, and the administrative structures being established, the Scheme will open for applications - for both financial payments and enhanced medical cards - as soon as possible in 2023.