Minister announces Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme to open on March 20

Minister Roderic O’Gorman has today updated survivors and former residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions on plans for the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme.

The Minister has confirmed that the Payment Scheme will open for applications on 20 March 2024.

In an update to survivors and former residents, the Minister outlined the key information which will be required from those making an application.

This information is also available at www.gov.ie/paymentscheme

Minister O’Gorman said: “I am pleased to confirm that the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme will open in a matter of weeks, on 20 March.

“I had committed to opening the Scheme this quarter and I know that many survivors and former residents have been waiting for this news.

“Given its scale, time has been needed to get the structures in place to open the Scheme and, as we approach the opening date, staff are continuing to work hard, to ensure that the process is as smooth as possible for applicants.

“Once the Scheme opens, the Payment Scheme Office will process all applications as quickly as possible, with the first payments expected to be made in Quarter 2 of this year.

“As promised, the Scheme will give priority to applications according to the age of the applicant, and so applications from older people will be prioritised.”

The Payment Scheme is a key element of the Government’s Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions.

Special Advocate for Survivors appointed

Minister O’Gorman is also today announcing that he has appointed Ms Patricia Carey to the role of Special Advocate for Survivors, following an independent, open and transparent recruitment campaign, managed by the Public Appointments Service.

The role of the Special Advocate will be to promote the collective interests of survivors, as expressed by them, and to amplify their voices as a central, essential input to Government deliberations on matters which affect them.

The Special Advocate’s remit will encompass Mother and Baby Institutions, County Home Institutions, Magdalen Laundries, Industrial and Reformatory Schools, and related institutions, and those adopted, boarded out or the subject of an illegal birth registration.

Patricia Carey served as the CEO of the Adoption Authority of Ireland from 2014 to 2022, leading the Authority’s work on the landmark Birth Information and Tracing Act.

Prior to this role she held the position of Director of Services for St Vincent De Paul, and has also held various volunteer leadership roles, including Chairperson of Connect Counselling for Survivors of Institutional Abuse and a founding member of Outhouse resource centre for the LGBT+ community.

As an adopted person born in a Mother and Baby home, Ms Carey brings a unique perspective and dedication to her work which she will also bring to the role of Special Advocate for Survivors.

The appointment of a Special Advocate for Survivors fulfils a core commitment in the Government’s Action Plan, which recognises that the response of Government to the legacy of these institutions must be directly informed by the voices of those most centrally affected.

Ms Carey will take up her role as Special Advocate for Survivors with effect from 25 March.