THE DEPARTMENT OF Justice has already received hundreds of calls regarding the Magdalene Laundry Fund to the number provided for survivors.

Following the debate on the McAleese report this week, survivors of the laundries were invited to contact the department to register their case for State support.

The phone line opened yesterday and a spokesperson for the department told TheJournal.ie that some 400 calls have already come in since then.

The new fund will likely cover pension payments and other benefits including medical cards and psychological and counselling services in lieu of the unpaid work the women carried out and the harsh conditions they endured at the laundries.

Former judge Justice John Quirke is to under take a three month review to establish the best ways in which to provide redress for the women who received no pay for their work.

Survivors can contact the Department of Justice in relation to the redress process at the address: Magdalen Laundry Fund, c/o Department of Justice and Equality, Montague Court, Montague Street, Dublin 2.

They can also phone: 01-476 8649, email: info@idcmagdalen.ie or visit the websites:www.idcmagdalen.ie or www.justice.ie

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