Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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205. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if consideration will be given to a matter (details supplied) regarding the mother and baby homes inquiry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5185/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Terms of Reference for the Mother and Baby Home Investigation and certain related matters have been approved by Cabinet and both Houses of the Oireachtas last month. Details in respect of the Commission are available on my Department’s website including a number of explanatory documents. My Department is currently advancing arrangements with Judge Yvonne Murphy to establish the Commission as soon as possible.

The Commission is tasked with thoroughly examining the experience of mothers and children who were resident in 14 named Mother and Baby Homes and a sample of County Homes. The Commission is required to address seven distinct questions related to the practices and procedures regarding the care, welfare, entry arrangements and exit pathways for residents of these institutions. In accordance with the Terms of Reference approved by Government, the investigation will cover the period 1922-1998 – over three quarters of a century. It is important to appreciate the scale of this investigation which will potentially involve tens of thousands of mothers and children who resided in these homes during the period.

I am satisfied that the independent Commission has sufficient scope to examine a broad range of concerns, and to make a determination on their relevance to the central issues in question, and where appropriate to make any recommendations to me which the Commission deems necessary. In this regard, I hope that this will reassure those who feel that the process to date may not have fully uncovered information relevant to their specific circumstances.