THE GOVERNMENT IS expected to publish details of the compensation and redress scheme being set up for survivors of the Magdalene Laundries later today.
This follows a three month review of possible redress and supports to be made available to the women by High Court judge John Quirke following the publication of the Martin McAleese report into the State’s involvement in the controversial institutions.
The report by the former senator found that the State was involved in admitting over 2,120 women to the laundries through various means including the criminal justice system.
This amounted to over a quarter of women admitted to the laundries between 1922 and 1996.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny issued a formal State apology to survivors of the laundries in February and promised a fund for the women with both compensation and support including the possible provision of medical cards, psychological counselling services and other welfare needs.
The fund is reportedly set to amount to around €25 million and will be available to the around 700 women who are still alive.
The Irish Times says today that the payments from the fund will range from €10,000 to €100,000 dependent on a woman’s length of stay.
Justice Minister Alan Shatter will release details later today after briefing groups representing the women.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say