People in Galway are encouraged to find out more about the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme and whether they may be eligible for financial payments and/or health supports.
This call-out to people in Galway comes as 268 people have applied for the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme since the launch of a nationwide public awareness campaign on August 24.
It brings the number of applicants to the Scheme to over 7,600, with over 6,200 payments made under the Scheme so far.
The 12-week campaign is running across national and local print, radio, digital and social media. This phase builds on previous awareness-raising efforts undertaken since the Scheme launched in March 2024. The Scheme is scheduled to remain open for applications until March 2029.
As part of this campaign, people in Galway who spent time in Mother and Baby Institutions are encouraged to find out more about the Scheme and whether they may be eligible. Institutions located in Galway included the Tuam Children’s Home and St. Brendan’s Home, Loughrea.
Applications are confidential, with information and support available throughout the process. Applicants do not need to provide institutional records, exact dates or detailed accounts of their experiences.
Anyone seeking further information can visit the Scheme’s dedicated paymentscheme.ie or call the confidential Scheme’s Freephone service on 1800 843 354. Family members, carers and friends are also encouraged to support anyone who may be eligible to find out more.
People across Galway, including in Galway city, Tuam, Loughrea and communities across the county, are encouraged to find out more about the Scheme and, if they think they may be eligible, to consider making an application.
Information is also available nationwide through primary care centres, public libraries, post offices, nursing homes and Citizens Information offices.
Norma Foley, Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, said, “I welcome the strong response to this next phase of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme awareness campaign, and the increase in applications and enquiries in recent weeks.”
“I want people to know that they can contact the scheme in confidence, with information, guidance and support available throughout the process.”
“The scheme will remain open until March 2029, giving potential applicants time to find out more, consider their options and, if they wish, make an application.”
“I encourage anyone who thinks they may be eligible, or who is supporting them, to visit paymentscheme.ie or contact the Freephone service.”
