Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme - Background and Legislation

The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme provides financial payments and an enhanced medical card or health support payment to defined groups in acknowledgement of circumstances experienced while resident in Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions.

The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act was signed into law on 11 July 2023 and regulations to allow the Scheme to operate were signed on March 2024.

Some further information, including the Act, the Regulations and the Payment Scheme Ministerial Guidelines, is available at the links below.

• Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2024
• Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023 (Establishment Day) Order 2024
• Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023 (Reviews) Regulations 2024
• Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023 (Appeals) Regulations 2024
• Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023 (Financial Support in respect of Legal Costs and Expenses) Regulations 2024
• Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023 (section 49(4)) Regulations 2024

On 8 April 2025 Minister Foley published the report of the independent negotiator, Ms. Sheila Nunan, on Negotiations with Religious Organisations associated with Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme. Ms Nunan was tasked with leading a negotiation process with religious bodies associated with Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions, with a view to seeking a financial contribution towards the cost of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme.

The report is broken up into 3 parts:

In designing the Payment Scheme, Government agreed proposals informed by a variety of inputs and sources including an Interdepartmental Group consultation with survivors and former residents and the IHREC. A General Scheme was then published. Further information is available in the documents linked below.