Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme: How Your Information Is Used and Protected

The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme has published detailed guidance explaining how applicants’ information is used, protected and accessed. The Department of Children, Disability and Equality says the guidance is designed to clarify data protection rights for people applying to the Scheme or seeking records about their time in an institution.

Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme information rules

Information provided to the Payment Scheme Office is used only for purposes connected with an application or where the law requires information to be shared. This includes processing applications, checking records that help confirm a person’s time in an institution, and issuing payments or supports for which an applicant may qualify.

The Department of Children, Disability and Equality is the data controller for information held by the Scheme. Records must be handled lawfully, fairly and transparently, kept secure and retained only for as long as necessary. Some documents may also need to be retained for legal or archival reasons.

How applicants can access records

People seeking information held by the Department have several routes available. The appropriate option depends on whether the request concerns personal data or wider official records:

• Subject Access Request (SAR): for personal information held about the individual.
• Freedom of Information (FOI): for non-personal official records, including policies, statistics and other documents.
• Birth Information and Tracing Act request: for eligible people seeking birth certificates and available information about birth, early life, care history and medical records.

An FOI request can be sent to foiequality@dcde.gov.ie or posted to the Freedom of Information Officer, Department of Children, Disability and Equality, Block 1, Miesian Plaza, 50–58 Baggot Street Lower, Dublin, D02 XW14. A SAR application form is available through gov.ie for records relating to the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation.

Data protection rights under GDPR

Applicants have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation and Irish data protection law. These include requesting access to personal information, correcting inaccurate records, seeking restrictions on processing and objecting to certain uses of data.

The right to erasure may apply in some circumstances, although records connected with the Payment Scheme may have to be retained for legal or archival purposes. Requests are generally answered within one month, and identity confirmation may be required.

Concerns can be raised with the Department’s Data Protection Office at dpocontact@dcde.gov.ie or by post to the Data Protection Unit at the Department’s Dublin address. Individuals may also complain to the Data Protection Commission (DPC).

Contact the Payment Scheme Office

The Payment Scheme Office can assist with questions about applications, records and the information process. It can be contacted on freephone 1800 843 354 from the Republic of Ireland, or on +353 1 522 9992 from abroad. The office is open Monday to Friday, from 9am to 6pm GMT, excluding public holidays.

Applicants can also email info@paymentscheme.ie or write to PO Box 13668, Waterford, Ireland. Additional information about government services and public supports is available through gov.ie and Citizens Information Board resources.

Key takeaway

The guidance gives applicants a clearer route to understanding how their information is processed and how records can be requested. Anyone using the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme should choose a SAR, FOI request or Birth Information and Tracing application based on the type of information they need, while remembering that the Data Protection Commission is available for complaints about data handling.

Article/Image Courtesy: gov.ie