Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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666. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on proposals from survivor groups to provide for memorials for those that were incarcerated at mother and baby homes, as promised to them by the previous Minister. [6781/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I recognise the importance and value of memorials for former residents of mother and baby homes and their families. A number of advocacy groups have made representations to me seeking support for the provision of such memorials. I believe it is appropriate that their experiences would be publicly acknowledged in this way. I am also aware of the positive indications of my predecessor as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in this regard.

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that funding has been identified from within my Department's 2017 Vote to support the provision of memorials. It is clear that an inclusive approach is a crucial to advancing this proposal and my Department will work with the representative groups to determine how best to support the delivery of local memorials.

I would hope that this could be significantly advanced while the Commission's work is on-going and my officials will be in contact with representative groups in the coming weeks.