On the 27th of February 2024, the Irish Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, confirmed that the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme would open for applications on 20 March 2024. It is now open and applications can be made online or by post.
Minister O’Gorman noted that 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. The Payment 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 Irish Government’s Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions.
There are three benefits available under the Payment Scheme:
a general payment;
a work-related payment; and
health supports.
The level of the financial payment will depend on the amount of time spent in one of the institutions. You can pick up a copy of a list of the payment rates and details of the payment rates for general and work-related payments are available here.
The health supports will be either:
an enhanced medical card; or
for people living outside of Ireland only, a health support payment valued at €3,000,
instead of the enhanced medical card.
Survivors will qualify for a payment based solely on proof of residency and will not need any evidence of abuse suffered at the institution.
