Written answers

Tuesday, 20 January 2015

Department of Children and Youth Affairs

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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363. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the terms of reference regarding the definition of exit pathways for the forthcoming inquiry into the appalling treatment in the mother and baby homes; his views on the correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2802/15]

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, I announced the proposed Terms of Reference for the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related matters on Friday, 9th January.Relevant details are available on my Department’s website, www.dcya.gov.ie. In developing the Terms of Reference due regard was given to the emphasis on “Mother and Baby Homes” in the motion approved by Dáil Eireann on the 11th June 2014 and the investigation will examine a wide agenda of matters in relation to these homes. The investigation will thoroughly examine the experience of the many mothers and children who were resident in a Mother and Baby Home over the period 1922-1998. The approach taken provides a deliberate emphasis on the experiences of women and children who spent time in Mother and Baby Homes over the period 1922-1998. Accordingly, the Terms of Reference focus on institutions which can be identified as having both:

- the primary function of providing sheltered and supervised ante and post-natal facilities to single mothers and their children, and

- an ethos which those running the institutions considered to promote a regime of work, training or education as part of an overall approach to either rehabilitating single mothers before they left the institution, or to give them training for living independently.

The Commission will also investigate a representative sample of those County Homes which had a considerable focus on these services. On the basis of the available information, I am satisfied that the institutions included in schedule 1 of the draft Order meet these criteria whereas the institutions raised in the details supplied by the Deputy do not, as they did not provide this specific range of services.

However, where such institutions had a relationships with a Mother and Baby Home, the role played by these institutions can be examined within the Commission's work. Article 1(VII) of the Terms of Reference requires the Commission to investigate the exit pathways of children when they left these Homes, and in particular the nature of the relationship between Mother and Baby Homes and other key institutions – these include children’s homes; orphanages; and adoption societies. This will include identifying patterns of referral, and the practices and arrangements for placing children, including where an intermediary organisation was involved in arranging a subsequent placement.The Terms of Reference also require consideration of the extent to which mother’s consented to such placements – i.e. was their consent full, free and informed – and the degree to which children’s welfare and protection was considered in making such placements. Issues to be examined by the social history module under Article 11 also include the role and interrelationships of a range of institutions, including homes for infants or children.

I do appreciate that since the decision to establish this investigation was announced there have been calls for the inclusion of a broad range of matters. At least some of these issues are unrelated to the intended remit of this investigation. In addition, and in the interests of maintaining the required focus and specificity on Mother and Baby Homes, it must be recognised that previous inquiries have already examined some related issues. This includes the comprehensive investigation into historical child abuse already conducted by the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse. Its remit was to inquire into the abuse of children in a broad range of care settings, including children's homes, during the period 1940 to 1999.

The Government is satisfied that the proposed Terms of Reference Government provide an ambitious and appropriately focused set of tasks which can be accomplished by this Commission within a realistic timeframe.

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