The Magdalen Restorative Justice Ex-Gratia Scheme

 

The Magdalen Restorative Justice Ex-Gratia Scheme was established in 2013 on foot of the recommendations contained in the Magdalen Commission Report – otherwise known as the Quirke Report. That Report was a response to an Interdepartmental Government Committee report – otherwise known as the McAleese Report - set up to establish the facts of State involvement with the Magdalen Laundries.

 

The Ex Gratia Scheme was established for the benefit of women who were admitted to and worked in the 10 Magdalen Institutions as well as St Mary’s Training Centre Stanhope Street and the House of Mercy Domestic Training School Summerhill, Wexford. For the purposes of the ex-gratia scheme, these twelve institutions are collectively called the ‘Magdalen institutions’.

 

Application of the Scheme to 14 Adjoining institutions

Arising from a recommendation made by the Ombudsman in his report on the operation of the ex gratia Scheme, the Government decided in May 2018 to apply the scheme to women who worked in the laundries of the 12 ‘Magdalen’ institutions but who were resident in one of 14 adjoining institutions.  In order to apply this decision, an Addendum to the terms of the 2013 ex-gratia scheme was published.

 

 

MAGDALEN SCHEME STATISTICS
A total of €31.95m has been paid to 803 applicants. Under the original scheme 794 applications have been received.  The position in relation to the applications as of Friday 18 September, 2020 is as follows:
Application Status	18 September, 2020
Paid	726
Offers issued	3
In progress	1
Outstanding queries	0
Incomplete applications	0
Ineligible	53
Applicant deceased awaiting probate	8
Applicant died intestate	2
Withdrawn	1
Total Applications Received	794

 

Under the 2018 Addendum to the Scheme 119 applications have been received. The applications include 52 cases refused under the original scheme who may now be eligible. The position in relation to applications as of 18 September, 2020 is as follows:
Application Status	18 September, 2020
Paid	87
Offers issued	1
In progress	1
Outstanding queries	0
New application	0
Incomplete applications	0
Ineligible	25
Applicant deceased, eligibility not established, no known next of kin	1
Application suspended due to lack of response from applicant	3
Withdrawn	1
Total Applications Received	119

 

Review Process by Mary O’Toole Senior Counsel A total of 215 cases have been identified for review by Ms O’Toole The review progress is set out in the table below
Status	18 September, 2020
Additional award paid	113
Award unchanged (original decision upheld)	48
Applicant withdrew from the process	24
In progress with Ms O’Toole with some queries outstanding	30
Total	215

Eligibility

If having read this Information Note, you believe that you may be eligible for an award under the 2013 ex-gratia scheme or under the Addendum in respect of any of the institutions shown on the attached list you should complete one of the two application forms.  The first application form covers the  12 Magdalen Institutions under the 2013 Scheme and the second application form covers the adjoining institutions covered by the Addendum.

 

Application forms can be sent to:

 

Address:

The Restorative Justice Implementation Team
Operations and Service Delivery
Department of Justice & Equality
2nd Floor Bishops Square
Redmond’s Hill
Dublin 2
D02 TD99

 

Due to the current Covid-19 restrictions contact with the Unit is available by Telephone: 087 1433235 or Email: LABarrett@justice.ie