This afternoon.
Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman (above) has sent the government’s Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions and details of the long-delayed Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme to survivor groups.
It will distribute up to €800 million among an estimated 34,000 survivors.
Minister O’Gorman writes:
The Payment Scheme will operate as follows:
1. All mothers who spent time in a Mother and Baby Institution will be eligible for a payment, increasing based on their length of stay.
2. All children who spent six months or more in an institution, and did not receive redress for that institution under the Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (RIRS), will be eligible for payment based on their length of stay.
3. There will also be an additional, work-related payment for women who were resident in certain institutions for more than three months and who undertook what might be termed commercial work.
4. An enhanced medical card will be available to everybody who was resident in a Mother and Baby or County Home Institution for six months or more.
5. Applicants will qualify solely based on proof of residency, without a need to bring forward any evidence of abuse nor any medical evidence. In certain limited circumstances, sworn affidavits may be required.
6. Those survivors and former residents now living overseas will qualify for a payment on the same terms as individuals living in Ireland, and will have the choice to receive an enhanced medical card or a once-off payment in lieu of the card as a contribution towards their individual health needs.
The legislation required to establish the Scheme will be developed by my Department as a matter of priority…
However…
…Although work has already commenced, it will take some time to make arrangements for this Scheme and it is hoped that the Scheme will be open for applications before the end of 2022.
Report here
RollingNews
Thanks Breeda
