The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme was established by the Irish Government following the report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes. It provides general payments and a work-related payment to people who spent time as residents in those institutions, with a separate health support arrangement.
Who Is Eligible
- Mothers and people who were resident as children in listed institutions may qualify under different residence rules; check the official scheme guidance.
- Eligibility windows and minimum residency periods vary depending on the institution and the type of payment being claimed.
- Time spent boarded out is not itself residence in a listed institution. Check whether any qualifying institutional residence meets the scheme rules.
What Payments Cover
Payments are intended to recognise the time spent in institutions and, where applicable, the work undertaken without proper compensation. They are made on a no-fault basis and do not require survivors to prove specific incidents of abuse to qualify, although accepting a payment ordinarily involves a waiver of further civil claims against listed parties.
Wider Context in 2026
The Payment Scheme operates against a wider backdrop of redress and accountability efforts in Ireland, including arrangements relating to the Magdalene Laundries and ongoing scrutiny of institutional record-keeping and access. Survivors living outside Ireland, including in the UK and the United States, may also be eligible to apply.
Acceptance of a payment under a state redress scheme often involves signing a waiver. Survivors should take independent legal advice before signing — particularly if civil claims, cross-border proceedings, or other redress routes may be relevant to their situation.