Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 January 2021
358. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a physical copy of the mother and baby homes commission report is being given to each known survivor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3181/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra374. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a copy of a report will be issued to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2604/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra382. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when hard copies of the commission on the investigation into mother and baby and Bethany homes report will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2888/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 358, 374 and 382 together.
A printed copy of the Final Report of the Commission will be made available to any survivor who wishes to have one.
The Report was made available in digital format in the first instance so as to immediately make it available to the widest possible audience. This is particularly important having regard to the sheer size of the report and the extreme challenges which arise in disseminating hard copies, due to current necessary public health restrictions.
On the 13 January, my Department issued an email to our contact list of survivors and advocates and posted a notice on my Department's website, to outline how survivors and their advocates could secure a copy of the report. My Department can be contacted at 01-6473200 from Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 6pm, or by emailing motherandbabyhomes@equality.gov.ie. There is no charge for any former resident to be provided with a copy of the report.
With regard to the details provided by the Deputy, my Department will make contact directly with the individual concerned and make the necessary arrangements.
The Department has an abridged version of the Report, containing the main chapters such as the Executive Summary, Recommendations, and of course, the key chapters containing Survivors’ own stories, for any survivor who requests one. The Department also has printed copies of the full report (six volumes of almost 3,000 pages and weighing 8.5kg) which if preferred, are also be available for any survivor who requests one, again free of charge. The Department has limited stocks of both formats but additional copies will be produced to meet demand.
My officials are procuring the services of third parties to print and deliver the hard copies of the report, hence the need for written consent from individuals. Names and addresses will be shared with a third party service provider and this will be done in full compliance with General Data Protection Guidelines.
When the public health situation permits, the Department will also make available printed copies of the full report in specified public facilities. Further details of these arrangements will be publicised in due course.
