Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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625. To ask the Minister for Health how persons can access records of local authorities prior to the introduction of the health boards in relation to births that took place in mother and baby homes, particularly in Donegal County Council and at Bessborough House in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9420/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In accordance with the Registration of Maternity Homes Act, 1934, local authorities, as defined under the Act, were the registration authority for maternity homes. Records which were required to be kept at maternity homes included;

(a) every reception into such home;

(b) every discharge from such home;

(c) every confinement therein;

(d) every miscarriage therein;

(e) every birth therein;

(f) every death therein;

(g) every removal of a child therefrom and of the name of the person by whom and the address to which such child is removed.

Over the years, responsibility for the registration and inspection of such maternity homes transferred to the Health Boards and subsequently to the HSE. To help with this matter I have passed your query to the HSE for direct reply, but given the passage of time, I am not sure if all records relating to the nursing homes in question still exist. I am aware that some historic maternity records are held by the National Archives so it might also be worth addressing your query to that Office.