Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme was not developed with the intention of trying diminish anyone’s personal experience in these institutions. The Payment Scheme should be recognised as just one element of a comprehensive package of support measures agreed by the Government as part of the Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions. This commenced with the Taoiseach's apology on 13th January 2021, to all survivors of these instititutions on behalf of the State.

The Action Plan will provide additional support and assistance to all those who may not be eligible for the Payment Scheme through other measures. Specifically, my Department has already delivered on the critical issue of access to records. So, for those children who spent short periods of time in an institution during their infancy – and consequently not eligible for the Scheme - the Action Plan provides a response to their needs in the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 and the investment which has been made available to support services under this Act. Those services are now available and will provide guaranteed access to birth certificates, as well as wider birth and early life information for those who have questions in relation to their origins. Since opening on 3 October, almost 4,600 applications for information and tracing services have been completed. Counselling support is also available to all survivors and former residents free of charge.