Compensation scheme for mother and baby home survivors opens

THE compensation scheme for survivors of mother and baby homes has opened for applications.

It comes amid criticism over the eligibility criteria for those in line for compensation.

The Department of Children said the payment scheme will provide financial payments and health supports to eligible people who spent time in mother and baby institutions in Ireland.

The Government anticipates 34,000 applications for redress and a form of enhanced medical card, with many expected to come from people who now live outside Ireland.

The scheme has been widely criticised because it applies a six-month stay requirement for those eligible.

Last year, Labour TD Sean Sherlock said that 40% of survivors will not be eligible for the scheme due to the “arbitrary” requirement that they must have been a resident of a home for at least six months, which he said is “completely unfair”.

Those who are eligible can apply via the Government’s website, or by downloading a form or phoning the Payment Scheme Office helpline.

In a statement, the department said: “The Payment Scheme Office will process all applications as quickly as possible.

“It will give priority to applications according to the age of the applicant, and so applications from older people will be dealt with first.

“The first cohort to be processed will be applications from those aged 80 and older.”