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Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 January 2021

Thursday, 21 January 2021

Questions (258)

Holly Cairns

Question:

258. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking to conduct a full survey of the Bessborough estate in County Cork in response to the fifth interim report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes, which states that the commission considers that it is likely that some of the 859 unaccounted children are buried in the grounds, but has been unable to find any physical or documentary evidence of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3184/21]

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Written answers

The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes has conducted an extensive five-year long investigation into Mother and Baby institutions, including the burial practices at each of the institutions in its Terms of Reference. In the case of Bessborough, the Commission reported that it was unable to locate the burial place of most of the children, some 859 persons, who died there. This is a deeply tragic state of affairs.

In its Fifth Interim Report, the Commission outlined the extensive measures it took to locate the burials at Bessborough and, while it did conclude that burials are likely to have taken place on the grounds, it also concluded that further investigation of the 200 acre site was not feasible in the absence of further information. I echo the Commission’s plea that anyone in possession of information regarding burials at Bessborough would please come forward.

I note that much of the Bessborough site is now in private ownership. I possess no powers to conduct or order investigations regarding burial sites on privately owned land.

I am aware that two applications for planning permission have been sought in respect of the Bessborough site. I have made submissions to Cork City Council and to An Bord Pleanála, as part of the statutory planning process, outlining my strongly held view that proper account should be taken of the history and sensitivity of the Bessborough site, and that at a minimum further archaeological investigation of the proposed development site should attach as a condition to any potential grant of planning permission. I have also asked that due consideration be given to requests from survivors and their families for appropriate access and respectful memorialisation in due course.

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