Mother and Baby Homes Redress 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]
Mother and Baby Homes Redress Scheme
The Government has now announced the terms and broad details of the redress scheme, which is due to open in 2022.
Below we have provided details as they apply to the community. The Payment Scheme is described in detail, and many frequently asked questions concerning the scheme are answered below.
How Coleman Legal can 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.
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. No more recent figures are available at this time.
**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*
Redress scheme details
For Mothers
It has been announced that any mother who spent time in a mother and baby institution in Ireland for any duration of time will be eligible for redress/compensation. This is a welcome change to what the Commission had been recommending (which was that redress would only arise for those having spent more than 6 months* and would only extend to those who went in prior to 1974.
*Please note that on the 12th of July 2022, the Oireachtas joint committee recommended that this requirement be dropped from the scheme
Redress will arise if the person resided in one of the 14 mother and baby homes or any of the States County homes. Unfortunately, at this time, redress is not being extended beyond that to other institutions.
List of institutions eligible for the scheme.
The compensation levels go up depending on residency. See attached for detailed figures. The compensation starts at €5,000 and goes up after 3 months to €10,000. There are additional payments if the person engaged in what is termed as ‘commercial work.’
This has not been set out by the government as yet, but it is likely to include persons who worked outside of the home or those who engaged in work inside the home of a commercial nature, i.e., this might include making items that are to be sold by the religious order to third parties.
The redress 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.
If you would like to, please fill out our contact form below, and someone from the team will be in touch with you – (Free Phone) 1800 844 104 or complete our online enquiry form.
Redress scheme for children/adoptees
The Mother and Baby Homes Redress scheme has dealt a serious blow to adoptees and children residents of these institutions. For the time being at least, there is a residency requirement (minimum six months*) before the person will be eligible for redress. The rates will be the same 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
Unfortunately, redress at this time is not being extended beyond that to other institutions not included in the list. See the link for a list of the institutions. List of institutions eligible for the scheme.
*On the 12th of July 2022, the Oireachtas joint committee recommended that the list of institutions be expanded to include;
- St. Patrick’s Guild
- Temple Hill
- St Josephs – Stamullen
- St. Annes – Stamullen
- West Bank – Greystones
Even if you are not likely to be included in the scheme because of residency requirements or because your institution isn’t on the list, Coleman Legal would still like to hear from you.
We may be able to assist by will reviewing your particular circumstances and providing some input on what options may be available to you.
Similar to the redress for mothers, there is a provision for a medical card, and the application for redress can be made simultaneously.
One positive to be taken from the proposals for adoptees is that anyone who was in St Patrick’s (Navan Road/Pelletstown) will be eligible be able to apply to the scheme, provided they didn’t get redress in the Residential Redress Scheme of 2002.
If you would like to, please fill out our contact form below, and someone from the team will be in touch with you.
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
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 works 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.