Women who underwent the procedure of symphysiotomy will be able to access an an ex-gratia compensation scheme following agreement at today’s Cabinet meeting.

Minister for Health James Reilly brought the redress proposal to fellow Ministers this morning.

He drafted proposals following receipt of a report from retired Circuit Court judge Yvonne Murphy on the options available for compensating more than 250 women who underwent the procedure.

The women, who endured the surgical procedure to break the pelvis during childbirth to allow a baby to be born, are being informed of the details of the scheme.

For many women the procedure left permanent injuries such as incontinence, difficulties walking and chronic pain.

About 80 per cent of the operations were performed in private hospitals.

Of the estimated 1,500 women who underwent the operation between the 1940s and 1980s, it is estimated that up to 300 survivors remain. They range in age from 47 to 91 years, but about half are aged over 80.

The practice was rarely used in other European countries at the time when it was most prevalent in Ireland.