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Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 February 2021

Wednesday, 24 February 2021

Questions (621, 634, 635, 636, 637, 638, 639, 644)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

621. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a person (details supplied) will be provided with a copy of report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10034/21]

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Catherine Connolly

Question:

634. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a person (details supplied) will be provided with a copy of the report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10361/21]

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Catherine Connolly

Question:

635. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons who have requested and have yet to receive a copy of the report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes; when such persons will receive a copy of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10362/21]

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Catherine Connolly

Question:

636. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons who have requested a copy of the report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10363/21]

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Catherine Connolly

Question:

637. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of reports of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes sent to survivors to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10364/21]

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Catherine Connolly

Question:

638. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes will be made available in audio format; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10365/21]

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Catherine Connolly

Question:

639. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes will be published in Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10366/21]

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Catherine Connolly

Question:

644. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a person (details supplied) will be provided with a copy of the report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10386/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 621, 634 to 639, inclusive, and 644 together.

My officials are currently working through the large volume of requests received for hard copies of the final report.

Due to its size, the report is being printed and distributed in batches through a commercial printing firm. In order to meet the demand and requests still on hand, further batches are expected from the printers within the next two weeks. Once received these will be issued for immediate delivery through the third party distributor procured to undertake this service.

Up until Sunday 21st February my Department received 456 requests for full copies (which includes requests from former residents, public representatives, and members of the general public). The Department is prioritising requests from survivors, and we have put a robust process in place, in compliance with GDPR to ensure their safe delivery.

Requests for 270 copies have been fulfilled, this includes copies send to Irish embassies to assist survivors living abroad to access the report. Of the 270 copies which have been dispatched -243 copies have been delivered by our third party distributor to survivors and former residents including members of the Collaborative Forum.

We currently have 186 requests outstanding.

In relation to the requests from individuals which have been provided by the Deputy, my officials have confirmed that the they do not have a record of a written request for a hard copy of the full report from the individual that is referenced in PQ 10386. We will of course be happy to facilitate any such request when received.

The remaining 2 individuals have supplied their details and consent to the department and will have their requests fulfilled within the current print run. I wish to acknowledge the Deputy's ongoing efforts to assist survivors in accessing this report and my Department has provided a number of copies to the Deputy to assist in this regard.

In relation to the availability of the report in various formats; The Commission's Final Report was made available in digital format in the first instance so as to immediately make it accessible to the widest possible audience. There are a number of tools available both on and offline that can provide assistance to individuals in accessing the Report by converting text to audio. This includes a read aloud function available on most devices which can be enabled through the accessibility settings on the device. My officials have published guidance on my Department's website to assist users in availing of this functionality. I have no plans at the present time to publish an version of the report in Irish at this time, however I understand there are tools available on line that might assist in translation of the report.

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