Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
982. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of calls for an investigation at a facility (details supplied) after the discovery of an alleged mass baby grave; and if he will facilitate this investigation; and if a timeframe will be given for same. [35770/23]
View answerI understand that there has been a recent GPR survey of the Children’s Burial Ground at Sean Ross. However, my Department was not made aware of any details of this survey and I, therefore, cannot comment on its findings.
Separately, my Department has engaged with groups representing relatives of former residents of the institution at Sean Ross and has made available funding to allow for further specialist site investigation using ground penetrating radar equipment.
The Deputy may be aware that the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes included a Report of Forensic Archaeological Investigations at Sean Ross Abbey Mother and Baby Home Children’s Burial Ground. The report, which was commissioned on foot of concerns about the burial ground in Sean Ross Abbey, found that infant human burials were located across the Children’s Burial ground and these had not been impacted by any utilities or drainage works. The report notes that coffins, or evidence of coffins were located with the majority of remains (84%).
As set out in its final report, the Commission was satisfied that the forensic report provided clear evidence that the coffined remains of children under the age of one are buried in the designated burial ground. It noted that, without complete excavation, it was not possible to say conclusively that all of the children who died in Sean Ross were buried in the designated burial ground and that it did not consider that further investigation was warranted.
