Written answers
Tuesday, 25 February 2025
Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Mother and Baby Homes
Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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132. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of payments made to date in each category of Schedule 2 and each category of Schedule 3 of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023, by category, in tabular form; the number refused and the reasons therefor; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7546/25]
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy has sought some statistics pertaining to the operation of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme which I provide here up to 17 February.
| Applications received | Notices of determination | Notice of determination - no award | Paid or in process of being paid - Schedule 2 | Paid or in process of being paid - Schedule 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6,183* | 5,242 | 967 | 1,845 | 2,020 |
Note:
* 378 of these are incomplete applications. In such cases, applicants are being supported by the Payment Scheme Office in order to provide the outstanding information required so that their application can move forward. This could be, for example, a supporting document such as certified photo ID.
The Payment Scheme is designed to provide payments and other benefits to people who spent time in any of the Mother and Baby or County Home Institutions that were identified by the Commission of Investigation as having a main function of providing sheltered and supervised ante and post-natal facilities to single mothers and their children.
Of the notices of determination that have issued, 82% contain an offer of benefits under the Scheme. Applicants have 6 months to consider their offer before they need to respond. Where notices of determination are issued that do not provide an offer of benefits there can be different reasons e.g. hard copy application naming an institution not in the Scheme or length of time less than 180 days in an institution as a child.
All information on the Scheme, and how to apply, can be found at the dedicated Payment Scheme website - gov.ie/paymentscheme. Resources include an information booklet, questions and answers, and short 'how to' videos on the application process. A Helpline is also available at +353 1 522 9992.
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