The Executive Office is now consulting on plans for a public inquiry into mother and baby institutions, Magdalene laundries and workhouses and an associated redress scheme.

Included in the proposals is an early standardised payment of £10,000 for those eligible, with further individually assessed payments being made available following the work of the inquiry.

All those admitted to mother and baby institutions and Magdalene laundries or those children (now adults) born while their mother was there would be eligible for the proposed payments, and applications could be prioritised on the basis of age and ill health.

First minister Michelle O’Neill said: “Victims and survivors had waited far too long to have access to the truth, redress and accountability for the suffering they endured.

“The consultation is key to the establishment of the public inquiry and redress scheme and, we are determined to progress this as quickly as possible.

“I hope that this initial payment for those who are eligible will bring some reassurance that we are committed to driving this forward.”

She added: “We are very aware that there are a number of complex issues to be resolved and we have tried to be as sensitive as possible to victims and survivors’ concerns.

“We recognise that these issues are very personal to them and support is available throughout the process. It is important now for us to see, listen and hear from those affected in order to inform the decisions we take with our Executive colleagues.”

Deputy first minster Emma Little-Pengelly said: “The public consultation aims to gather a wide range of views. These views will help shape the legislation necessary to set up the Inquiry to establish answers to the three core questions of; what happened, why it happened; and who was responsible.

“We are also very aware that victims and survivors who have been through so much have waited for too many years for access to financial redress. That is why we have included an initial £10,000 standardised payment for those eligible within this proposal.

“A further individually assessed payment, which takes into account individual experiences to reflect severity, duration and impact will also be available at a later stage following the work of the inquiry.”