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Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2020

Tuesday, 3 November 2020

Questions (972)

Holly Cairns

Question:

972. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if, following findings in the fifth interim report of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation regarding the Bessborough Home in Cork city, he will fund a physical survey of the estate to locate the possible burial place of the more than 800 unaccounted for children who died in Bessborough or in hospital after being transferred from Bessborough; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33318/20]

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Written answers

The investigation of burial arrangements of persons who died while resident in what were termed Mother and Baby Homes was a key focus of the terms of reference for the statutory Commission of Investigation. We already know from the Commission's interim reports that it dedicated significant time and effort to advancing its investigations into these matters.

In the Fifth Interim Report, the Commission reported that it had found no physical or documentary evidence of systematic burials within the grounds of Bessborough, but considered it highly likely that burials took place there. Notably, the Commission did not consider it feasible to excavate the full 60 acres involved, let alone the rest of the 200-acre estate on which there has been extensive building work since the institution closed. There was also uncertainty as to whether the children may in fact be buried at a recognised graveyard in respect of which records could not be located. The report’s contents were forwarded to relevant agencies for further consideration at the time of its publication.

While the Fifth Interim Report made no specific recommendations, the Commission asked for public assistance in furthering its investigation into these matters and indicated that it would include any further information in its Final Report.

As the Deputy may be aware, I have received the Commission’s Final Report in recent days. Arrangements are being advanced to facilitate its consideration by Government with a view to its publication as soon as possible. Any further considerations on burial arrangements will be informed by any further findings or recommendations of the Commission in relation to these important matters.

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