Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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On 28 February 2021, with the dissolution of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation, my Department became the data controller for all the personal data contained in the records and databases that transferred from the Commission.

My Department is responsible for fulfilling data subject rights, including the right of access to personal data. I am very mindful of the importance to people who were born in Mother and Baby Homes of access to their personal data. I continue to be committed to vindicating the rights of each data subject in respect of their personal data and my Department is committed to meeting its obligations as a data controller when dealing with Subject Access Requests (SARs). Responses are provided to individuals on a case by case basis in accordance with the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Records and databases transferred to my Department were compiled by the Commission of Investigation over a 6 year period from 2015 to 2021. While the majority of records have been catalogued at this time, the residual cataloguing is expected to be completed by the end of 2024. As records are catalogued, personal data relating to individuals is provided to them as advised in correspondence relating to their SAR. My officials have contacted the individual directly in relation to the matter.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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618.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when payments under the mother and baby institutions payment scheme will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24939/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, following the opening of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme on 20 March, the first offers of awards under the Scheme were made in April, while the first payments were made and the first medical cards were issued in May.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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619.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a decision will be made on an application to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24940/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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While I try to be helpful at all times in the parliamentary process, the Deputy will be aware that I cannot be involved in individual cases and cannot comment on same.

The legislation underpinning the Payment Scheme - the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023 - specifically provides for the explicit independence of the Chief Deciding Officer in administering the application process and making decisions on applications. Therefore, it would be inappropriate for me to engage in the process in relation to the status of individual applications.

All information on the Scheme, and the application process, 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 straightforward application process. A Helpline is also available at +353 1 522 9992. Applicants will be supported throughout the application process with information and advice as and when they may need it.

In addition to all these applicant supports, public representatives can contact the Payment Scheme Office via a dedicated email address paymentschemereps@equality.gov.ie if they are assisting constituents in relation to the Scheme.

In this case, I suggest that the applicant in question contacts the helpline directly and I am sure they will be assisted appropriately.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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620.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if those in receipt of redress through the mother and baby homes redress scheme will have their associated medical cards be assured for the recipients’ lifetime, or be subject to intermittent review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24942/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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As the Deputy is aware, under the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme, applicants are entitled to an enhanced medical card where they spent 180 days or more in a scheduled institution. This medical card is not means-tested, and is awarded solely on the basis of eligibility under the Scheme.

This being the case, the enhanced medical card is not subject to intermittent review and will be available to the recipient throughout their lifetime.