Over 250 applications have been made to the Government's controversial Symphysiotomy Payment Scheme, the Department of Health has said.

The redress scheme will see women who underwent a surgical symphysiotomy receiving payments of €50,000, €100,000 or €150,000.

Symphysiotomy had been discontinued in all but one hospital by the mid-1960s, however, it continued at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda until the mid-1980s.

It involved widening the pelvis to ease childbirth by dividing the cartilage of the pubic bone. However, the operation caused severe side-effects in many women, including life-long pain, incontinence, mobility problems and psychological problems.

The establishment of the redress scheme had been announced last July, but had been criticised by some survivors for a number of reasons, including the lack of independent adjudication in relation to awards made.

However announcing the details of the scheme last month, the Department of Health said that former High Court Judge, Maureen Harding-Clark, had been appointed as an independent assessor to oversee the implementation of the scheme. Her role will be to determine the ‘appropriate level of award for each individual case'.

"The scheme is designed to be simple, straightforward and non-adversarial, and aims to minimise the stress for all the women concerned. Many of the women are elderly and may not want to experience the delay, publicity and financial risks that sometimes come with a court case," the department had stated.

It has now announced that as of December 3, 257 applications for the scheme had been received, mainly from women in their 80s and 90s, and applications were continuing ‘to come in at an increased rate'.

The department reminded applicants that they can opt out of the scheme at any stage, up to the time of accepting their awards, if they wish to pursue a legal action.

"No one will waive their right to proceed with a court cases as a pre-condition of applying to the scheme. If they wish, women may obtain legal or professional advice to help in preparing to submit an application to the Payment Scheme, but this is not necessary," the department said.

It added that the High Court has also confirmed that in cases where a woman may have diminished mental capacity as a result of dementia or other factors, ‘another person may make an application on their behalf'.

Two of the support groups representing those affected, Patient Focus and SOS Ltd, have welcomed the scheme, however a third group, SoS (Survivors of Symphysiotomy), believe it is ‘unjust' and is forcing survivors ‘to choose prematurely between legal action and redress'.