Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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564. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes will publish an interim report; the cost to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35755/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes was established in February 2015 (S.I. No. 57 of 2015). The terms of reference require the Commission to submit three reports, namely an academic social history report; a confidential committee report on witness hearings, and the final report of the investigation into the 14 named Mother and Baby Homes and a representative sample of County Homes.

An interim report from the Commission was published on the 27th July 2016. This first Interim Report focused exclusively on the Commission's request for an extended time frame for the completion of the reports of the confidential committee and social history modules. The Government agreed to the requested extension and all three reports will now be completed by February 2018. This remains within the three year timeframe provided for this statutory investigation. Importantly, the extension of time will serve to accommodate the large number of witnesses coming forward and to ensure that new information being discovered can be fully analysed to give a complete understanding of the social history involved.

In granting the extension the Government also asked the Commission to separately report on any additional matters outside of its scope which it considers may warrant further investigation in the public interest as part of its work. A second interim report was submitted by the Commission on the 16th September 2016 in response to this request. Since receiving this report I have met with the Commission to discuss the report and the general progress being made with the investigation. Given the broad scope of the Commission's work, a number of issues in the report extend beyond the remit of my Department. For this reason, it has been necessary to consult with my Cabinet colleagues and the Attorney General on these matters. I have also sought additional information from the Commission to assist in these deliberations. My intention is to publish the report in conjunction with Government's response to the Commission's findings. I hope to conclude this process as quickly as possible and I will ensure the publication arrangements are notified directly to the various advocacy groups representing former residents and their families.

The costs associated with the Commission are met from my Department's Vote. Since its establishment the Commission has directly incurred costs totalling €3.015m (to end of October 2016). This expenditure consists of €1.630m in pay; €1.117m for operational costs (including accommodation), and €0.268m for other costs related to the investigation. In addition, my Department has also incurred costs to date of approximately €0.386m in supporting the establishment and operation of the Commission.