Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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350. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on a reported refusal by the Church of Ireland to pay into a restitution fund for mother and baby institution survivors, on the basis that it "neither owned nor operated” mother and baby institutions as reported in the media (details supplied); and the action he will take on the foot of same. [4811/24]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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351. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the letter published in a newspaper (details supplied) that the Church of Ireland did in fact play a significant role in the operation of mother and baby homes; and whether he intends to take action on foot of same. [4812/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 350 and 351 together.

Last May Government approved my proposal to appoint Ms Sheila Nunan to act on my behalf as Independent Negotiator in leading negotiations with religious organisations, which had a historical involvement with Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions. This is with a view to securing a financial contribution towards the cost of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme.

Both I and my Department are fully committed to the process of assisting the Independent Negotiator in her work.

Religious organisations including the Church of Ireland are engaging with the process. These negotiations, while ongoing, are being treated as confidential. A full report will be provided to Government once the negotiations are concluded.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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352. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when mother and baby institution survivors may apply for restitution payments as promised by him three years ago (details supplied). [4813/24]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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353. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on whether it is shameful that a person (details supplied) has been denied restitution, as a result of delays in implementing the restitution scheme; his plans to recognise the role played by them and other survivors who passed on while waiting for the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4814/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 352 and 353 together.

The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme will be the largest scheme of its type in the history of the State with an anticipated 34,000 people eligible for its benefits. Given its scale and significance the Scheme has been placed on a statutory footing and enabling legislation - the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023 - was signed into law last July.

Section 37 of the Act provides that the personal representative of a deceased relevant person, who died on or after 13 January 2021, can apply to the Scheme. The personal representative will be acting on behalf of the deceased person's estate and any award from the Scheme arising from that application will be made for the benefit of the deceased person's estate.

A comprehensive body of work has been undertaken to develop the substantial administrative framework required to deliver a scheme of this size. This work includes:

• the making of the necessary regulations which must be in place prior to the Scheme opening;
• making arrangements for the staffing necessary to deliver the Scheme;
• Developing a comprehensive training programme for all staff involved in the Scheme;
• Developing hard copy and online application systems;
• Developing the case management IT infrastructure for the Scheme;
• Preparing for a substantive public awareness campaign to be delivered in Ireland and overseas. To this end, a recent stakeholder engagement process for the Payment Scheme has just concluded with representatives reviewing some of the application and information materials for the Scheme.