John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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9. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the next steps with regard to the establishment of a national memorial and archive for survivors of institutional abuse; when works will commence at the proposed Dublin 1 site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28468/22]

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I will ask about the next steps with regard to the establishment of the national memorial archive for survivors of institutional abuse; when work will commence at the proposed Dublin 1 site and if the Minister will make a statement on the matter.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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On 24 March, the Government approved high-level proposals for a national centre for research and remembrance. The establishment of the national centre is a core commitment in the action plan for survivors and former residents of mother and baby and county home institutions. The national centre will be located on the site of the former Magdalen laundry on Seán McDermott Street in Dublin 1. It will stand as a site of conscience and will be a national memorial to honour equally all those who were resident in mother and baby homes, industrial schools, reformatories, Magdalen laundries and related institutions.

The national centre will include a museum, an exhibition space, a central repository of records related to institutional trauma and a research centre. It will also contain a dedicated place for solemn reflection and remembrance. In addition, as part of the development of the site, social housing units, local community facilities and an educational and early learning facility will be constructed. The inclusion of these facilities will make a valuable contribution to the social and economic development of Dublin's north-east inner city.

While physically situated in Dublin, the national centre will be accessible for all survivors, whether in other parts of Ireland or abroad. It will provide digital access to records and exhibits, as well as developing physical presences elsewhere, including in conjunction with some local museums, to enable survivors to visit more easily. In this way, the centre will be a national institution which achieves a global and national reach, as well as strong connections to and benefits for the local community.

Work is under way to progress the initial planning and development stages of the national centre. This is being driven by a steering group chaired by the former secretary general to the Government and ambassador-designate to the United Kingdom. The steering group has met on two occasions to date and will meet again this month. It is currently establishing a number of work streams spanning various technical aspects of the initiative, as well as engagement with survivors and the local community in Dublin's north inner city. This will ensure that the development of the national centre is directly informed by those most centrally involved, their families and representatives.

The creation of the national centre is a major multi-annual project. While I am not in a position to provide any definitive timeline as yet, an indicative timeline of five years has been provided to me by the steering group. It is hoped that some initial maintenance and structural work to facilitate building surveys could take place on the site this year.

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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The establishment of the national memorial and records centre is a central commitment in the action plan for survivors and former residents of the mother and baby and county home institutions. It is right we remember, honour and pay respect to those who were resident in mother and baby homes, county homes, industrial schools, Magdalen laundries and related institutions. The Government action plan contains a number of initiatives to respond to the needs of survivors through a variety of commitments, including access to information and records, memorialisation, financial payments, health supports and other key initiatives. In particular, I welcome that the Government is committed to advancing these actions in a survivor-centred manner and to ongoing engagement and dialogue with survivors. I have brought up several times that timing is very important for survivors. I ask that we try to get this through as quickly as possible. I understand that a cross-Government process is under way to advance works on this, as the Minister said. That is really important. I welcome that the Minister said this would be in consultation with survivors.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Deputy is right that in our response to legacy issues timing is important. This will take longer than some of the other actions. It is a major building project. It will have very positive impacts for survivors, former residents and their families and for the wider community in Dublin's north-east inner city in terms of having social housing, education and early-years elements. We have been moving very quickly on that central right of access to information. Last night, we finished Committee Stage of the Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022 in the Seanad. We will be going to Report Stage of that legislation after the recess. That central legislation to allow immediate access to information will be passed shortly. This longer-term piece, in terms of a place where records can be held and accessed appropriately but where there is also a site of memorial and conscience, is also being progressed.

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome that. I asked the Minister about the timescale of when the works would commence. He was not able to give me that answer. I know there is a planning process to go through. While we are speaking about survivors, I ask the Minister about the enhanced medical cards. I have been asked about this several times. I ask that we work on that straight away. It is of the utmost importance.

What is the progress on the role of local authorities to deliver on commitments to support memorialisation initiatives throughout the country? All local authorities have a role to play. It is important that in terms of survivors in all parts of the country, there is talks and communication with all the local authorities and that we look at something going forward. How is that being addressed? I know that the Minister has worked tirelessly on this and he has worked with all of us within the children's committee. I welcome that. Timing is very important in terms of payment and medical cards.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The enhanced medical card will be as part of the institutional payments Bill, the general scheme of which is being discussed in the Deputy's committee at pre-legislative scrutiny. I know the committee is working hard to get that report. We will be introducing that legislation early in the September term, with a view to getting it passed and operational by the end of the year. Local authority engagement is very important, too. My Department has been engaging with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. There has been a group meeting. I know a report was sent to me at the start of this week. I have not had a chance to go through it in detail. I hope to read it over next week and engage with that group. Maybe I can provide the Deputy with a fuller update at that point. However, work is ongoing on memorialisation and on how local authorities can better support former residents of these institutions.