Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Ag bogadh ar aghaidh go dtí an tSaincheist Thráthúil dheireanach in ainm an Teachta Pat Buckley. The Deputy wishes to discuss the redress scheme for survivors of mother and baby homes. I was a little lenient with the previous speakers because I did not think this matter would come up. I ask the Deputy to stop after two minutes.

Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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I raise the issue of the redress schemes for survivors of mother and baby homes. A lot of people, survivors of the mother and baby homes, have been in touch with me. They are extremely frustrated at having missed out on redress measures, whether the so-called enhanced medical card or another part of the redress scheme, because the days they spent living in a home fall short of the 180-day requirement. One was nine weeks short, while another was told they missed eligibility for the redress scheme by six or seven weeks. The frustration they have is with the records. The people I spoke to have said the information given by the institutions to the State is wrong. It is incorrect but they have no way of proving it. The Government is obviously taking the information for the redress scheme from the institutions' records, which creates fierce frustration.

We have had social welfare issues in specific cases, including in one I raised in the Chamber about a year ago. In fairness to the Minister, she informed me at the time that there was a one-to-one case worker on that case. That issue was resolved after 25 years. The woman in question had never received a carer's allowance for her child but she did through dialogue. Is any avenue available to survivors to rectify the records? It is bad enough what they went through in the institutions but now they have nowhere else to go to ask questions, correct the record and get what they are entitled to.

Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Buckley for raising this Topical Issue on the mother and baby institutions payment scheme. I will provide an update on the progress with regard to the delivery of this important scheme to survivors and former residents on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman.

As the Deputy knows, the scheme is the centrepiece of the Government’s action plan for survivors and former residents of mother and baby and county home institutions. It provides financial payments and health supports to eligible people in recognition of the circumstances they experienced in a mother and baby or county home institution. At an anticipated cost of €800 million, it is expected that 34,000 people will be eligible for financial payments under the scheme and 19,000 will be eligible for health supports, making it one of the largest schemes of its kind in the history of the State. The scheme opened in March of this year. By now, more than 5,200 applications have been received, 4,600 of which are fully completed applications which have been processed into the processing system. The payment scheme office is supporting those applicants with incomplete applications who need to provide some additional or further information. Almost 3,700 notices of determination or decisions have issued to applicants, more than 81% of which contain an offer of benefits under the scheme. Applicants have six months to consider their offer before they need to respond. Almost 1,900 payments have been either processed and completed or are in the process of being made. Total awards to date exceed €29 million.

A comprehensive public awareness campaign supports the scheme and the Minister has authorised the next phase of the campaign to commence next month. The Deputy will start to see and hear more about the scheme through local and national media. This is important because we need people to be aware of its existence and how to access it. All information on the scheme and how to apply, can be found at the dedicated payment scheme website at . This website includes an information booklet, questions and answers and information, including short "how to" videos. Ultimately, it is quite a straightforward application process. A helpline is also available at +353 1 522 9992, which may be of use to the constituents the Deputy mentioned. The easiest way to apply is using the online application portal. Hard copy application forms are available from the payment scheme office, Citizens Information centres and local libraries, if applicants want to apply that way. Applications can also be downloaded online. Overseas applicants can get an application form from their local Irish embassy or consulate. This scheme has been designed to be straightforward and non-adversarial and will not require applicants to bring forward evidence of abuse or harm.

With regard to the applicant's time in an institution, it is up to an applicant to be able to have the name of institution or institutions they spent time in and the dates they were there or approximate dates, if known. The Deputy raised a particular issue regarding approximate dates. I am happy to take details of that or he may send them directly to the Minister's office to see if anything can be done. Ultimately, the payment scheme office can only undertake searches of institutional records once it has some information. I understand that information can be difficult for people to access or provide. The Department is conscious that despite this, some survivors may still find it difficult to engage with the scheme.

I reiterate that the Government’s action plan response includes the provision of counselling support, through the national counselling service office in the HSE, free of charge to all survivors and former residents. I also reiterate that the free helpline is there for anybody who is having difficulty with their application form. I encourage the Deputy, his colleagues and my colleagues to promote this scheme and access to it so that more people get to know about it and engage with it and it benefits more people.

Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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I appreciate the Minister of State's response. As I said, sometimes no matter how many times we ask questions, we never seem to get the answer but at least there is an option available here. I will go back to the people I have spoken to who will have to call the helpline themselves. I will probably get back to the Minister of State or the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, in writing to state how they got on. I appreciate that there is some avenue for dialogue to try to resolve these issues.

Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Buckley. I will put on record some of the other systems and supports that are in place as it would be good for all Deputies to be aware of them and to promote them to those affected.

First, the national centre for research and remembrance is an initiative that will represent a national site of conscience. It will include a museum interpretation experience, a space for reflection and educational, family and parenting supports. Detailed planning and engagement with survivors and stakeholders are ongoing on what the site will look like and how it will be developed.

The landmark birth information and tracing service, underpinned in this legislation, has now seen more than 14,000 applications for information processed by Tusla and the Adoption Authority of Ireland. Through the Institutional Burials Act 2022, commitments to intervention at the Tuam mother and baby home site are being rapidly advanced, with the office established, a director appointed as well as an advisory board and a scheme for the taking of DNA samples announced. A special advocate for survivors was appointed earlier this year.

These developments, in tandem with the opening of the payment scheme, and yesterday’s announcement by the Minister of imminent legislation to preserve privately held records of Ireland’s institutional past, underline this Government’s commitment to respond to the needs of survivors and former residents of these institutions.

I thank the Deputy for his remarks, his collaboration on this and for raising this important scheme in the House.