Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 June 2021
439. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will make funds available to ensure the preservation of Ireland’s last Magdalene Laundry on Sean McDermott Street in order that it may be a site of conscience and truth-telling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33556/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sean McDermott Street site is in the ownership of Dublin City Council (DCC) and while it had a proposal for development at the site and had advanced a planning application this application was refused and therefore DCC had to rethink the proposal.
I am informed that DCC are still working to find a suitable tenant for the site and are in negotiations with the National College of Ireland with regard to them having a key part of the property as an Educational Facility.
DCC are committed to providing a suitable area within any development to host a memorial. The Government is committed to providing funding for a memorial at this site.
Action 7 of the Government Action Plan in response to the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes states that “The Government will work to establish, on a formal, national basis, a national memorial and records centre related to institutional trauma during the 20th century."
This point also states “It will be developed at a suitable site and operated in accordance with the highest international standards. It will be designed in cooperation with professional archivists and historians, as well as with victims, survivors and their advocates”. The Department will provide an update on progress under this Action as part of a memo the Minister shall bring to Cabinet in forthcoming weeks, outlining progress on each of the 22 points set out in the Action Plan.
