Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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661.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will explain the basis for the 180 days' residency requirement in a scheduled institution as a child in order to be eligible for benefits under the mother and baby institutions payment scheme (details supplied); if, in the interest of fairness, he will review this requirement with a view to removing same, given that all former residents went through the same suffering regardless of the number of days; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25356/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme recognises time spent in a Mother and Baby Institution and, in this way, the associated harsh conditions endured over a period of time. The requirement for children to have spent at least 180 days in a relevant institution is not intended to disregard or diminish any person’s experience and Government recognises that there are people who will be disappointed by this.

For children who spent less than six months in an institution and who were adopted in infancy or left the institution with their birth family, the priority need expressed by survivors was access to records.

As of 4 June 2024, under the Birth Information and Tracing Act, the Adoption Authority of Ireland and Tusla have completed 12,885 applications for information. All applications are now being processed in accordance with statutory timeframes and there is no backlog.

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. One of these commitments is counselling support for all survivors and former residents regardless of time spent in an institution. This support is in place, is free of charge, and survivors and former residents can self refer or be referred by a medical professional.