Mother & Baby Homes
The Commission of Investigation
The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes was established by the Government in 2015 with the objective of providing a full account of what happened to women and children in Mother and Baby Home Institutions during the period 1922 – 1998. The final report of the Commission of Investigation was published on the 12th January 2021. It is believed that there were about 56,000 women and about 57,000 children in the Mother and Baby Homes and County Homes during that period of time.
Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022
As a consequence of the report, the Government announced its intention to establish a redress scheme. The redress scheme is contained in the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022. This Bill was passed by Dáil Eireann on 22 February 2023. The Bill has now gone to Seanad Eireann for consideration. If it is passed by the Seanad, it will then be presented to the President of Ireland for it to be signed into law.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has published a Questions and Answers document. This document is intended to deal with the most frequently asked questions in relation to the scheme, such as the institutions covered by the scheme, who is eligible to apply to the scheme and what type of payments the scheme proposes. To download a copy of the document, please press the button below.
How to access your information
If you are unsure as to what length of time you were in one or more of the institutions intended to be covered by the Scheme, you are entitled to make an application to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to access your information. It is not necessary to use the form that has been made available by the Department to access your information once you apply for it in writing. However, if you wish to use the form, please press the button below.
Enquiry
If you would like to make an enquiry on your own behalf or on behalf of another person in relation to the Redress Scheme, please email us at reception@colbertsolicitors.com or telephone 063 30759. As with all our work, any enquiry will be treated in the strictest confidence.