Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 February 2021
512. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he will take to ensure that at least one bound copy of the final report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes is available for public reading and reference in each public library in line with envisaged reopening following the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions. [5966/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraA copy of the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes is being made available at no cost to any survivor who requests one. My Department can be contacted at 01-6473200 from Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 6pm, or by emailing motherandbabyhomes@equality.gov.ie. Relevant details have been published on my Department's website and circulated through our contact list of survivors and advocates.
The Department also 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. These are also available for any survivor who requests one through the same mechanisms. My Department has limited stocks of both formats but additional copies will be produced to meet demand.
When the public health situation permits, my Department will make printed copies of the full report available to specified public facilities, such as libraries. Further details of these arrangements will be publicised in due course.
In addition to our commitment to provide copies upon request, a number of copies of the full report have also been provided to the Department of Foreign Affairs to facilitate distribution to Consulates in the UK and USA, Canada and Australia to assist access for the diaspora.
