Mother and Baby Homes Payment Scheme
On the 17th of October, the Minister for Children, Equality , Disability , Integration and Youth presented the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022 to the houses of the Oireachtas. The proposed legislation is intended to provide for the establishment of a scheme for the purposes of making payments to former residents of certain institutions, as well as to make available without charge health services to such persons.
The Bill will now move to the Dail Second Stage, where the general principles of the Bill will be debated.
Coleman Legal is currently assisting all eligible persons who were residents in one or a number of the Mother and Baby Institutions in Ireland in preparation for the redress/compensation scheme.
Kindly complete the ‘Request a callback form below if you would like to see if you are eligible to apply for the scheme.
How can we help?
Norman Spicer is the lead solicitor assisting members of the survivor community with all matters surrounding the mother and baby homes redress and adoption
Free Phone: 1800 844 104
Email: [email protected]
Redress scheme for Mother and Baby Homes survivors
The approved Government Proposals for the Mother and Baby Homes Payment Scheme were published on November 16, 2021.
This followed the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into the Mother and Baby Homes which was posted on the 12th of January 2021.
The Scheme provides for a general payment that increases will increase based on the length of stay at the Institution. Additional payments will also be paid to mothers who carried out commercial work while in the Institution.
This will also apply to young mothers who were under 18 during their stay. There is also a provision for a medical card, and the application for redress can be made at the same time.
How can Coleman Legal help?
- Coleman Legal is currently gathering information from survivors that will assist in processing your applications for Mother and Baby Homes Redress Scheme.
- We will support you in accessing your historical records. (This is likely to be a key requirement)
- We will consult and assist in preparing all necessary documentation related to the mother and baby homes payment scheme and will expedite the application process on your behalf.
- We will keep you informed of the latest developments in the scheme as they arise by way of a newsletter.
Mother and baby homes payment scheme details
For Mothers
The Commission had recommended that redress only arises for those having spent more than 6 months* and that only those who were resident before 1974 be eligible.
Fortunately, the government has not restricted the scheme to either duration of stay or the timeframe of residency for mothers.
Any mother who spent time in one of the 14 mother and baby homes or any of the States County homes is now eligible.
*Please note that on the 12th of July 2022, the Oireachtas joint committee recommended that this requirement be dropped from the scheme.
For Children/Adoptee
In a move that will be devastating for many, the Government has imposed a minimum residency requirement of six months* applicable in order to meet eligibility criteria. The rates will be the same as for the mothers once the residency requirement is satisfied.
*Please note that on the 12th of July 2022, the Oireachtas joint committee recommended that this requirement be dropped from the scheme
Medical cards for survivors
The Government has advised that an enhanced medical card will be provided to all who were residents in a Mother and Baby Home or County Home for six months or more. Those living abroad will have the option to accept a one-off payment of €3,000 in lieu of a medical card if they so wish
Redress scheme payment distribution
The draft compensation amounts published to date set out a starting figure for a redress of €5,000.
This amount* would apply to all mothers** who were residents for up to 3 months in the institution, with the amount going up to €10,000 for those between 3 and 6 months of residency.
These amounts would go up if a commercial work payment were to be applied***
All of our clients receive a monthly newsletter which keeps our clients up to date on the events. We will apprise all of our clients if and when these amounts are increased.
*As of the 12th of July 2022, the Oireachtas joint committee has recommended that the amounts of redress be increased in line with redress schemes of the past.
**As of the 12th of July 2022, the Oireachtas joint committee has recommended that the 6-month rule for adoptees residency be dropped.
***This is on a case-by-case basis depending on the nature of work undertaken. Contact us now to see if you are eligible for the additional minimum of €1,500 (and up to €60,000 depending on the duration of your stay at the institution).
The new payments for the Mother and Baby Homes Redress Scheme are as follows*
List of institutions eligible for the Redress Scheme
Mother and Baby Homes investigated by the Commission:
| Location | Other names |
| Carlow | Sacred Heart Home and Hospital, Carlow |
| Cavan | St. Felim’s County Home and Hospital, Cavan |
| Clare (Ennis) | St. Joseph’s Hospital, Ennis |
| Cork (City) | Cork County Home and District St. Finbarr’s |
| Cork (Midleton) | Our Lady of Lourdes Home, Midleton |
| Cork (Clonakilty) | Mount Carmel Home, Clonakilty |
| Cork (Fermoy) | St. Patrick’s Hospital, Fermoy |
| Donegal (Stranorlar) | St. Joseph’s Home, Stranorlar |
| Dublin (St. Kevin’s Institution) | Initially the Dublin Union; |
| Galway (Loughrea) | St. Brendan’s Home, Loughrea |
| Kerry (Killarney) | St. Columbanus Home, Killarney |
| Kildare (Athy) | St. Vincent’s Hospital, Athy |
| Kilkenny (Thomastown) | St. Columba’s County Home, Thomastown |
| Laois (Mountmellick) | St. Vincent’s Hospital, Mountmellick |
| Leitrim (Carrick-on-Shannon) | St. Patrick’s Home, Carrick-on-Shannon |
| Limerick (Newcastlewest) | St. Ita’s Home, Newcastlewest |
| Limerick (City Home and Hospital) | St. Camillus Hospital, Limerick |
| Longford | St. Joseph’s Hospital, Longford |
| Mayo (Castlebar) | Sacred Heart Home, Castlebar |
| Meath (Trim) | St. Joseph’s Home, Trim |
| Monaghan (Castleblayney) | St. Mary’s Hospital, Castleblayney |
| Offaly (Tullamore) | St. Vincent’s Hospital, Tullamore |
| Roscommon | Sacred Heart Home, Roscommon |
| Sligo | St. John’s Hospital, Sligo |
| Tipperary North (Thurles) | Hospital of the Assumption, Thurles |
| Tipperary South (Cashel) | St. Patrick’s Hospital, Cashel |
| Waterford (Dungarvan) | St. John’s Hospital, Dungarvan |
| Westmeath (Mullingar) | St. Mary’s Hospital, Mullingar |
| Wexford (Enniscorthy) | St. John’s Hospital, Enniscorthy |
| Wicklow (Rathdrum) | St. Colman’s, Rathdrum |
Mother and Baby Homes investigated by the commission
| St Patrick’s / Pelletstown, Navan Road, Dublin 7 |
| The Tuam Children’s Home, Tuam, Co. Galway |
| Bessborough Mother and Baby Home, Cork |
| Manor House Castlepollard |
| Sean Ross Abbey |
| Árd Mhuire Dunboyne |
| Bethany Home, Dublin |
| Denny House, Dublin |
| Miss Carr’s Flatlets, Dublin |
| The Regina Coeli Hostel, Dublin |
| The Castle Newtowncunningham, Co. Donegal |
| The County Clare Nursery, Kilrush, Co. Clare |
| Belmont Flatlets, Dublin |
| St. Gerard’s, Dublin |
*Please note that on the 12th of July 2022, the Oireachtas joint committee recommended that the following institutions should be included.
- St. Patrick’s Guild
- Temple Hill
- St Josephs – Stamullen
- St. Annes – Stamullen
- West Bank – Greystones
Exclusion to the mother and baby homes payment scheme*
One of the main issues that have caused considerable upset and distress is the exclusion of infants who spent less than six months* in a particular institution.
*Please note that on the 12th of July 2022, the Oireachtas joint committee recommended that the below institutions should be included.
We confirm that we have written to the Minister for Children, Mr. Roderic O’Gorman highlighting to him our client’s concerns. We have also written to him to highlight the omission of many institutions from the scheme and to request engagement with him to broaden the applicable institution list.
Since the government announcement has been made, we have become aware of the exclusion of certain institutions, which include, among others
- West Bank orphanage Greystones County Wicklow,
- Temple Hill Blackrock County Dublin,
- Saint Patrick’s Guild in Blackrock,
- Saint Annes and Saint Joseph’s homes Stammullen County Meath.
Other areas of concern to ourselves and our clients are the position of ill or frail people who qualify for payment but may not be in a position to do so themselves. We are also receiving queries on behalf of applicants who lack capacity and may not be in a position to deal with their own affairs.
The exclusion of those residents who died prior to the 13th of January 2021 is also a cause of concern for many people.
The report into the mother and baby homes was commissioned in 2015 and it is our contention that the scheme should cover those people who are alive at the time of the commissioning of the report. This has all been set out in our submission to the minister.
It is hoped that in having contacted the Minister raising these concerns that respect and dignity for all those who have been affected by the infamous mother and baby home system can be achieved.
It is hoped that the minister will engage in a meaningful way with the representatives of this vulnerable group of people.
To speak with one of our mother and baby homes redress solicitors, call (Free Phone) 1800 844 104 or complete our online enquiry form.
Support Groups
If you are a former resident of a mother and baby home, you are entitled to free counselling under the National Counselling Service, operated under the auspices of the HSE. Click here to see the geographical locations of your nearest counselling service. Counselling can also be arranged over the phone.
More information is available at this link
Or those who are residents of the UK, below are several support organisations that may be able to help you;
Irish Community Services
- Phone: 0208 854 4466
- Website: irishcommunityservices.org
Leeds Irish Health and Homes
- Phone: 0113 262 5614
- Website: lihh.org
ICAP (Immigrant Counselling and Psychotherapy)
- Phone: 0207 272 7906
- Website: icap.org.uk
The London Irish Centre
- Phone: 0207 916 2222
- Website: londonirishcentre.org
For anyone resident in the US, please see the link below to local Irish immigration centres;
Find Your Local Irish Center | Coalition of Irish Immigration Centers (ciic-usa.org)
Choosing a solicitor for mother and baby home redress application
Yes, every applicant to the mother and baby homes payment scheme will need a solicitor as part of the application process. This comes in the form of legal advice (the costs of which are paid for by the scheme). This is necessary for executing a valid legal waiver. This is advice about bringing an action to the Court and the implications of accepting redress to the applicant’s constitutional right of access to the Courts.
Those accepting payments under the Scheme will be asked to sign a legal waiver stating that they will not then pursue the State through the courts. It is important that all applicants to the Scheme obtain legal advice regarding the implications of the legal waiver.
How we can help?
Coleman Legal has been working with many clients over the past five years who have been residents in Mother and Baby Homes and County Homes, both as mothers and as children.
We are currently liaising with our clients on the recent announcement and are reviewing documents received from our clients. Anybody who has not filled out paperwork will be asked to do so. These forms can be emailed or posted out to you for convenience. This will allow us to get your paperwork ready so that no time is wasted when the scheme opens. We will prepare your application to the Scheme on your behalf and submit it to the State body administering it.
Applications & Documents
It is also important to note that records evidencing your time at the institution will be needed as part of the application. These are generally available through Tusla at this link.
Legal Fees
Coleman Legal will not charge our clients a fee for handling their applications to The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme or for any other associated work or advice.
To speak with one of our mother and baby homes redress solicitors, call (Free Phone) 1800 844 104 or complete our online enquiry form.
Contacted us at:
Coleman Legal LLP
Solicitors
84 Talbot Street, Dublin 1
D01 YX60
DX 112002
Contact Details:
Free Phone: (1800)844104
Fax: (01) 5312727
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.colemanlegalpartners.ie
Online Enquiry Form: Apply
Request a Callback
Tell us about your case
Norman Spicer
Senior Solicitor
(1800) 844 104
[email protected]
”Norman Spicer is the lead solicitor assisting members of the survivor community with all matters surrounding the mother and baby homes redress and adoption.”
Mother and baby homes important FAQS
Who will qualify for the mother and baby homes redress scheme?
It is estimated that 34,000 survivors will be eligible for the redress scheme. If you are a mother who spent time in one of the 14 mother and baby homes or any of the County homes, you will be eligible for redress.
The redress will increase if the period of residency exceeds three months. An additional payment will also be made if you did ‘commercial work’ during your time in there. You may also qualify for a medical card.
If you are a person who spent a minimum of 6 months* as a child in one of these institutions then you will be entitled to redress. You may also qualify for a medical card.
*Please note that on the 12th of July 2022 the Oireachtas joint committee recommended that this requirement be dropped from the scheme
When is the mother and baby homes scheme opening?
The scheme is due to open for applications in 2022. At this stage, it is not possible to give a definite timeline. We await further announcements from Government.
How do I apply for the scheme?
The exact application requirements are not yet known. At this stage, we are asking anyone who requires assistance to fill out our info sheet at this link, and we will contact you to discuss.
To speak with one of our mother and baby homes redress solicitors, call (Free Phone) 1800 844 104 or complete our online enquiry form.
*In contentious business, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement. This statement is made in compliance with RE.8 of SI 518 of 2002.