Donegal residents urged to check eligibility for Mother and Baby Homes payments

People in Donegal who spent time in Mother and Baby Institutions are being asked to find out whether they may qualify for financial payments and health supports.

The appeal follows a rise in applications to the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme after a nationwide public awareness campaign launched on 24 August. An additional 202 people have applied since the campaign began, bringing the total number of applicants to almost 7,600, with over 6,200 payments already made.

Institutions in the county included The Castle in Newtowncunningham and the Donegal County Home – also known as St Joseph’s Hospital – in Stranorlar. The Stranorlar County Home was examined by the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes; between 1922 and 1964 it admitted 1,646 unmarried mothers and 1,777 children, with 343 children recorded as dying in infancy or early childhood. The Castle operated as a supported hostel for women and children from 1982 to 2006, accommodating 329 women and 64 children.

Applications are confidential and do not require institutional records, exact dates or detailed accounts. Information and support are available via the scheme’s website paymentscheme.ie or the freephone line 1800 843 354. Family members, carers and friends are also encouraged to assist potential applicants. Further details can be obtained from primary care centres, public libraries, post offices, nursing homes and Citizens Information offices across the state.

Source: Donegal Daily. Photo: Neil Harrington Photography / Pexels.