Departmental Records

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 July 2014

Thursday, 17 July 2014

Questions (490)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

490. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which records maintained by the former Department of Local Government and Public Health from 1924 to 1947 are still in the possession of local authorities; if these records contain information relating to payments made by the State to certain religious institutions in return for those institutions taking individuals deemed in need of institutional care such as that provided by mother and baby homes, Magdalen laundries, children's and orphans' homes and related institutions; if he will undertake to determine the fullest extent to which these records exist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32415/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

My Department is participating in the Inter-Departmental Group on Mother and Baby Homes. Local Authorities are responsible for maintaining their own archives and my Department does not collect detailed information in this regard. However, based on work carried out in connection with the Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee to establish the facts of State involvement with the Magdalen Laundries and the initial examinations carried out by the Inter-Departmental Group on Mother and Baby Homes, it appears that the public health related records maintained by local authorities in the past in connection with their previous public health functions were transferred to the Health Boards on their establishment under the Health Act 1970.

The Government has agreed to the establishment of a Commission of Investigation in relation to mother and baby homes and it can be expected that the extensive process of assembling and investigating all records will be a very significant part of the Commission’s work to which, of course, my Department will fully contribute.

My Department’s own records were transferred to the Department of Health on its establishment in 1947.