Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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127. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth her plans to financially acknowledge those excluded from the mother and baby and other institutions redress scheme, in particular those who do not meet the 180-day requirement, those whose were boarded out, those subjected to vaccine trials, those who suffered additional abuse as a result of race or ethnicity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7544/25]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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160. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what review or analysis has been undertaken of the decision to exclude those who spent less than 180 days in a relevant institution from the mother and baby and other institutions redress scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7545/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 160 together.

The Government proposals for the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme were developed following extensive deliberations on the very complex issues in question. They were significantly broader than those proposed by an Interdepartmental Group (IDG) and by recommendations from the Commission of Investigation.

The Scheme is designed to be non-adversarial, and there is no individualised assessment of an applicant's personal experiences or requirement to bring forward evidence of harm in order to qualify for a payment. Eligibility is based solely on the length of time spent in a relevant institution. Those who spent longer periods of time in these institutions, and endured the harshest conditions, receive the highest level of support.

Having regard to the reference to a six-month eligibility criterion in the Commission of Investigation report, this was subsequently included in the report of the IDG. For children who spent less than six months in an institution and who were adopted in infancy or left the institution with their birth family, the priority need expressed by survivors was access to records. As of 17th February 2025, under the Birth Information and Tracing Act, the Adoption Authority of Ireland and Tusla have completed almost 15,200 applications for information.

While a person may be eligible for the Scheme in respect of time spent in one of the institutions, a more individualised assessment process would be required for particular experiences within those institutions or for experiences in other institutions or settings.

Children were boarded out in a range of circumstances, in some instances from their own home and, so, could only be fully considered on a case-by-case basis and with the need for evidence to be presented.

The Commission of Investigation expressly considered vaccine trials and my predecessor engaged with Glaxo Smith Kline, the main entity behind the trials, to encourage them to respond appropriately to the report findings. The Commission also investigated issues of discrimination, including racial discrimination. Without wishing to diminish anyone's personal experience, it did not find clear evidence of systemic racism within the Mother and Baby Institutions.

Government is committed to responding to this legacy, a position underlined in the Programme for Government's renewed commitment to the Government Action Plan for Survivors. Already a range of supports are in place for all survivors:

• access to birth and early life information,
• the services of the Special Advocate,
• counselling support and
• the ongoing development of a National Centre for Research and Remembrance which will stand as a national site of conscience and honour equally those who spent time and suffered in institutions, were adopted or boarded out.