More than 700 women who were part of the Magdalene Laundries have
contacted the Department of Justice in the week since the Taoiseach
issued a State apology and announced a compensation fund.
The
number registering their interest in being considered for compensation,
benefits, or support is at the upper end of what the Coalition
expected.
As a scheme to compensate them is devised, Social
Protection Minister Joan Burton said the four religious orders that ran
the laundries needed “to think about taking part in the redress scheme
to compensate them”.
During Dáil statements on the laundries report, Ms Burton said she hoped the orders would “step forward” and contribute.