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Departmental Policies

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 February 2022

Thursday, 3 February 2022

Questions (189)

Christopher O'Sullivan

Question:

189. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress made towards the establishment of a national memorial and archive for survivors of institutional abuses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5433/22]

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Written answers

The establishment of a National Memorial and Records Centre is a core commitment in the published Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions. The National Centre will stand as a National Memorial in honour of those who were resident in Mother and Baby Homes, County Homes, Industrial Schools, Magdalene Laundries and related institutions.

This project also provides a basis for several other interdependent initiatives. I believe this project will make a significant contribution in our journey of recognising and learning from the failures of the past, acknowledging the hurt which continues to be felt by survivors, and seeking to rebuild a relationship of trust with those who were so profoundly wronged.

The Secretary General to the Government has been appointed to lead a cross-Government process to advance work on a National Memorial and Records Centre. This process, which will include engagement with survivors, will develop an overarching vision and proposed approach for the creation of the National Centre. Once this initial work is complete a comprehensive proposal will be brought to Government for approval.

The National Centre will be designed to include an archive of records relating to institutional trauma, alongside personal accounts of survivors lived experiences, as well as presenting the historical and social context. More generally, my Department has already appointed an Archivist and established a dedicated Information Management Unit to lead on the preservation of, and access to, our records, including the Commission’s archive. Enactment of the recently published Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022 will also assist to safeguard relevant records.

In addition to the National Centre, work is being advanced in conjunction with the local authorities to deliver on the commitment to support local memorialisation initiatives across the country. Furthermore, financial support is available from my Department through the Commemorative Grant scheme to support survivor groups in commemorating their experiences in a manner which fits their own specific needs.

As we have learned from our consultations, memorialisation is very important to survivors although it can mean many different things to different people. In recognising this variety of perspectives, further consultation will be undertaken to ensure these developments are informed by those most centrally involved with these experiences.

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