Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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1342. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons who have registered user profiles on the mother and baby institutions payment scheme application portal since the launch of the scheme to date, regardless of whether the user has proceeded with an application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11246/25]

Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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1343. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of applications made to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme since the launch of the scheme to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11247/25]

Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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1344. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons that have requested a review of the notice of determination on their application to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme since the launch of the scheme to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11248/25]

Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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1345. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons that have appealed the decision of a review of the notice of determination on their application to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme since the launch of the scheme to present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11249/25]

Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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1346. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of notice of determination reviews in respect of applications to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme that have been made because the office of the chief deciding officer has determined that the applicant has spent insufficient time in an institution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11250/25]

Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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1347. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of appeals disputing a review of a notice of determination on an application to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme that have been made because the office of the chief deciding officer has determined that the applicant has spent insufficient time in an institution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11251/25]

Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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1348. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of notice of determination reviews on applications to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme that have been made because the office of the chief deciding officer has determined that the applicant is not a relevant person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11252/25]

Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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1349. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of appeals disputing a review of a notice of determination on an application to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme that have been made because the office of the chief deciding officer has determined that the applicant is not a relevant person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11253/25]

Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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1350. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of notice of determination reviews on applications to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme that have been made because the office of the chief deciding officer has determined that the applicant is not entitled to a general payment or a work related payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11254/25]

Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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1351. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of appeals disputing a review of a notice of determination on an application to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme that have been made because the office of the chief deciding officer has determined that the applicant is not entitled to a general payment or a work-related payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11255/25]

Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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1352. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of notice of determination reviews on applications to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme that have been made because the office of the chief deciding officer has determined that the applicant is not eligible for the provision without charge of health services to him or her; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11256/25]

Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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1353. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of appeals disputing a review of a notice of determination on an application to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme that have been made because the office of the chief deciding officer has determined that the applicant is not eligible for the provision without charge of health services to him or her; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11257/25]

Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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1354. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of notice of determination reviews on applications to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme that have been made because the office of the chief deciding officer has determined that the applicant is not entitled to a health support payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11258/25]

Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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1355. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of appeals disputing a review of a notice of determination on an application to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme that have been made because the office of the chief deciding officer has determined that the applicant is not entitled to a health support payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11259/25]

Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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1356. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of notice of determination reviews on applications to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme that have resulted in a change to the notice of determination; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11260/25]

Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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1357. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of appeals disputing a review of a notice of determination on an application to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme that have resulted in a change to the outcome of the review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11261/25]

Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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1358. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of notice of determination reviews on applications to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme that have resulted in no change to the notice of determination; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11262/25]

Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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1359. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of appeals disputing a review of a notice of determination on an application to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme that have resulted in no change to the outcome of the review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11263/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1342 to 1359, inclusive, together.

The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme opened in March 2024. As at 9th March 2025, 6,259 applications have been received. Aside from those submitting paper applications, there are 5,294 total registered users on the application online portal, 3,623 of which have submitted an application.

If applicants are dissatisfied with a decision on their application, they can request a review. Requesting a review is a very straightforward process for the applicant but it rightly triggers a very comprehensive assessment of all aspects of the application within the Payment Scheme Office, regardless of which reason for the review was selected by the applicant. Ultimately a detailed report is prepared, followed by a thorough quality-check process before it is provided, together with the decision, to the applicant. To date, the Payment Scheme has received 482 requests for reviews on Notices of Determination. Of those fully decided, 49 reviews have resulted in a change to the original Notice of Determination and 135 reviews have resulted in no change.

It is important to note that applicants can select multiple reasons for requesting a review, so therefore the total reasons sought will be a larger number, than total reviews. The following is a breakdown of the reasons reviews have been sought:

• 141 - insufficient time in an institution.
• 165 - applicant is not considered a relevant person.
• 242 - applicant is not entitled to a general payment or a work related payment.
• 99 - applicant does not qualify for the provision of a medical card.
• 72 - applicant does not qualify for a health support payment.

• 10 - applicant has spent insufficient time in an institution.
• 8 - applicant is not considered a relevant person.
• 10 - applicant is not entitled to a general payment or a work related payment.
• 4 - applicant does not qualify for the provision of a medical card.
• 2 - applicant does not qualify for a health support payment.

Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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1360. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will amend the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023, to allow all applicants to request a review of their notice of determination and to appeal the decision of that review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11264/25]

Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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1361. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if, in light of the fact that section 19(1) of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023 states that ‘a person who considers that he or she is a relevant person may make an application...to the Chief Deciding Officer’, she will instruct the office of the chief deciding officer to amend the mother and baby institutions payment scheme application portal to allow any person who considers that they are a relevant person to make an application to the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11265/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1360 and 1361 together.

The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme opened for applications in March 2024.

Any person who considers themselves to be a relevant person may apply to the Payment Scheme using the portal and may also apply by post. Section 2(1) of the Act, defines a relevant person as a person who is either or both of the following:

(a) a person who, while the person was a child, was resident in a relevant institution other than in circumstances referred to in paragraph (b);

(b) a person who, while the person was a child or while the person was an adult, or both, was resident in a relevant institution—

(i) for reasons relating to the person’s pregnancy, or the birth or care of the child born as a result of the pregnancy, and

(ii) where the primary purpose of the person’s admission to the relevant institution was the provision to the person of shelter and maintenance;

The list of institutions which qualify as relevant institutions are set out in the schedules to the Act and at least one of these must be selected when submitting an application by portal.

The Deputy has also asked about rights of review and appeal. All applicants who receive a notice of determination are entitled to a review and appeal. However, there are three circumstances set out in the legislation where an application may be deemed ineligible:

1. Where you apply for an institution that is not a scheduled institution i.e. one not listed in Schedule 1 of the Act.

2. Where the application is made for a person who died before 13th January 2021, the date of the State apology to survivors and former residents.

3. Where the application is in respect of a period of time after 31st December of the concluding year for the institution applied for as set out in Schedule 1 of the Act.

In these cases, an applicant will receive a letter noting that the application to the Payment Scheme is ineligible and no notice of determination will be issued. This decision is final and there is no access to the review or appeal process because the Chief Deciding Officer must act in accordance with the legislation and has no discretion to allow such an application to proceed. Nor would it be fair to the applicant to facilitate an online application or any request for a review which ultimately could never be successful.

All information on the Scheme, and how to apply, can be found at the dedicated Payment Scheme website - gov.ie/paymentscheme. This includes an information booklet, questions and answers, and information, including short ‘how to’ videos, on the straightforward application process. A Helpline is also available at +353 1 522 9992.

It is important to emphasise that the Payment Scheme is just one element of the Government’s response to the country’s complex legacy of Mother and Baby Institutions. Of the seven major commitments set out in the Government Action Plan for Survivors, published in November 2021, six are now delivered and in place, with the seventh well underway. Key actions which have been achieved include counselling support; access to birth information with over 15,200 cases completed; and the creation of the Special Advocate for Survivors; as well as the ongoing development of the National Centre for Research and Remembrance.