Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1068. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the grounds upon which a person (details supplied) may not get redress, who is a potential beneficiary under the Mother and Baby Home Redress Programme, but who understands that despite being affected in a similar way to others, may not get redress on the basis of their lesser stay in the institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27864/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 is not possible to comment on eligibility in individual cases in advance of the Scheme being open and an application being assessed in full and in accordance with all eligibility criteria.

The decision not to include children who spent less than 180 days in a relevant institution is not intended to disregard or diminish any person’s experience and Government recognises that there are people who will be disappointed by this.

It is important to emphasise that the scheme is just one element of the Government’s response to the country’s complex legacy of Mother and Baby Institutions. The government published an Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions on 16 November 2021. This Plan is inclusive and responds to the diverse needs and priority concerns of all concerned. The actions are designed to support survivors in a number of ways and to contribute to healing and future well-being. Information on the progress of the Plan can be found on my Department's website at www.gov.ie/dcediy.