Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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561. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he expects the mother and baby institutions payment scheme to open for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42754/23]

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. To that end, a significant milestone was achieved on 11 July with the enactment of the underpinning legislation - the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023.

This Act allows for the establishment of an Executive Office in my Department to administer the Scheme and the appointment of the Chief Deciding Officer to head up that office. It also allows for the making of the necessary regulations which must be in place prior to the Scheme opening and provides a lawful basis for access to records and other information which are essential to processing of applications.

Intensive work is underway to conclude the work on the administrative structures in as timely a manner as possible in order to transition to a live Scheme.