Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. I am conscious of the hurt felt in particular by the survivors and family members of people who died in Bessborough. One of the most tragic aspects of what happened in that particular mother and baby institution was the uncertainty regarding the burial places of the many children who were resident there and the many children who we know died there and in some linked institutions. The investigation of burial arrangements in mother and baby institutions, including in Bessborough, was an important part of the work of the commission of investigation. In Bessborough, the commission carried out cartographic and landscape assessments of possible unrecorded burial arrangements. It also carried out a site survey and followed up with responses. The commission concluded that it is likely that some of the children who died in Bessborough are buried on the grounds but it was not able to find the physical or documentary evidence. As no evidence of locations was found, the commission did not consider it feasible to excavate the full available site, which now amounts to 60 acres, or the full original site, which would have been over 200 acres. Right now, I am not aware of any detailed proposals for Government funding to undertake a further survey of the Bessborough grounds. Given the scale of the current estate and the wider estate, excavation would have a significant cost and we must recognise that.

My Department provided support to survivors and relatives of former residents of Sean Ross Abbey and a site examination was carried out after they came to us with a specific proposal. I know there have been planning applications for the land in Bessborough, including for what is seen as the potential burial site and for other lands. In September, An Bord Pleanála rejected a planning application and one of the reasons it did so was that the site concerned was the potential location of a burial site on the lands.

See this speech in context