Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 June 2018
260. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children aged one or under buried at the HSE-owned cemetery attached to a former home (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28577/18]
View answer261. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children aged one or under who died at a former home (details supplied) in periods; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28578/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 260 and 261 together.
I wish to advise the Deputy that the Department of Children and Youth Affairs does not hold records in relation to the issues raised. In addition, I am advised that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, does not hold records relevant to the Deputy's query. I note from the information provided by the Deputy that the cemetery involved is in the ownership of the Health Service Executive (HSE). I do not have any details on the information which may be held by the HSE. I understand that St. Ita's Community Hospital is currently a residential care unit for the elderly and that former facilities at this site would also have operated under the relevant health authorities of the time.
The Deputy may be aware that the independent Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes has been tasked with examining the treatment of unmarried mothers and their babies in Mother and Baby Homes as well as a representative sample of County Homes. In accordance with its remit, the Commission previously announced that it had selected four County homes which it considered to have provided comparable functions to a Mother and Baby Home. However, the former County Home in Newcastle West was not specifically identified for further examination by the Commission.
