Sinn Féin’s spokesperson for Children, Integration, Equality and Youth, Claire Kerrane TD, has called on Minister O’Gorman to use the massive underspend of €158m on the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme for those excluded from the scheme to date.

Speaking in the Dáil this afternoon, Teachta Kerrane said:

“We learned yesterday that there has been a massive underspend in the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme of over €158m. This was referred to in committee as a ‘saving’.

“This massive under-spend provides the Minister with an opportunity now to look at those excluded from the scheme – such as the four institutions.

“Earlier today, I met with Michael Grant and his daughter. Michael was a resident at Temple Hill in Blackrock, from the time he was four weeks old, until he was one year old and subsequently adopted.

“Michael spent almost one full year in this Georgian-type home, yet it is considered by the Department to be a hospital and thus excluded from the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme. I do not and cannot understand this nor could I explain why to Michael.

“Michael’s mother paid five shillings a week for his stay there – effectively a type of ‘rent’ for almost an entire year. Despite this heartbreaking experience in the first year of his life, Michael is excluded from the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme.

“I could not explain to Michael today why he was excluded. Michael – like others excluded – is no different to other babies who were placed in the Institutions that fall under the Scheme.

“I am calling on Minister O’Gorman to include survivors of Institutions that the Scheme currently omits. I made that call to him on the floor of the Dáil this afternoon and I have followed up my request to him in writing.

“The Department should not be putting this under-spend down to a ‘saving’. Such a situation would be inexcusable.

“Of course, more needs to be done to ensure more Survivors apply for the redress they thoroughly deserve; however, it is clear that even a big lift in applications will not see all of this money spent.

“The right thing to do is look at those excluded from the Scheme, the four institutions and those excluded by the six-month rule. The Minister in his final days should do right by survivors.”