Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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803. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will contact all those persons that have contacted her Department regarding adoption and mother and baby homes in recent years to inform them of the existence of the commission of investigation into mother and baby homes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9611/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I am on the record of this House as encouraging any person with information which may be relevant to the investigation to contact the Commission directly. All relevant information is on the Commission's website and can be accessed at www.mbhcoi.ie.

Following the public consultation process to inform the development of the Commission's terms of reference, my Department passed on the submissions and correspondence received from groups and individuals to the Commission.

The Deputy may wish to note that my Department has also made arrangements to inform these interested parties of significant events regarding the Commission.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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804. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to reports that over €20,000 was spent on carpets for the offices of the mother and baby homes commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9710/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation was established by Government in 2015 with office accommodation provided in 73 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2. The building had previously accommodated a public health body but was empty prior to the Commission's tenancy. I am advised that the floor coverings in the building were aged and in poor condition generally. Wear and tear to areas of carpet around the building were deemed to present a trip hazard and the Office of Public Works assisted the Commission in the procurement of new floor coverings.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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805. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if any outreach or advertising was undetaken to make Irish citizens that were adopted and are now living abroad aware of the commission of investigation (details supplied). [9584/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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At the outset it is important to state that the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes (and certain related Matters) is independent in the conduct of its investigations. Therefore, the advertising strategy is a matter for the Commission to decide and I do not have any role or influence in this regard.

The Commission has written to a range of Irish groups in the UK and the USA inviting relevant people to come forward. The Confidential Committee has already visited the UK for hearings and proposes to do so again in the near future.

While I do not have a direct role the Commission's advertising strategies, I am on record of this House as encouraging any person with information which may be relevant to the Commission to contact them directly. All relevant information is on the Commission's website and can be accessed at www.mbhcoi.ie.