Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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23. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the methodology of the scoping exercise into illegal birth registrations, illegal adoptions and other irregularities at mother and baby homes including the number of files and homes that will be included in the exercise; and when it is due to be completed. [37907/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I have asked an Independent Reviewer, Ms Marion Reynolds to oversee a further analysis of relevant records held by Tusla and the Adoption Authority in the first instance.

The purpose of the exercise is to see if clear evidence of illegal registrations is evident in other records. The first meeting between Ms. Reynolds and the nominated representatives from Tusla and the Adoption Authority of Ireland took place in mid- June and I was expecting the final report within four months, i.e. by mid-October. However I have recently been advised that due to the complexity of the review, and in particular, issues arising in relation to data protection and the GDPR, it will be mid-December before Ms Reynolds will be in a position to provide me with the final report. I expect that details in relation to the methodology used in the review and the records reviewed, will be set out in that report.

The selection of records for examination will be agreed with the assistance of a statistician and the methodology overseen by Ms Reynolds.

Given the volume of records involved, in my view, we must first judge the likely incidence of cases that can actually be identified, through this analysis. I will then be in a position to judge the next steps which may be required.

The analysis of records can only be applied to those records which are currently in the custody of the State, i.e. to those records that are in the possession of either Tusla or the Adoption Authority of Ireland.

The work of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes will also be important in dealing with a range of other adoption related matters.

It is examining adoption practices in the cases of mothers and children who were resident in the institutions, within its terms of reference. The Commission is also required to examine the interaction of Mother and Baby Homes with other institutions, organisations and individuals who had involvement with children from these institutions.

For example, the Commission is examining the practices and policies within adoption societies involved in the placement of children from these institutions. This will provide an important insight into any potential irregularities involved.

I believe that the further analysis of records which has commenced, together with the ongoing work of the Commission, will be extremely important in helping us shape any further steps to be taken.

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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24. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes has been able to give equal attention to the other 15 institutions; and her views on the need to examine the other 15 institutions. [37992/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters is an independent statutory investigation. I am not therefore in a position to provide detailed progress updates on this work. Any available updates would be posted by the Commission directly to its website.

The Commission's terms of reference, attached as a schedule to Statutory Instrument No. 57 of 2015, task the Commission with examining a range of specific concerns in respect of 14 named institutions. The terms of reference also require the Commission to identify a representative sample of those County Homes which provided comparable services to unmarried mothers and their children. The Commission has selected 4 named County Homes for this purpose.

While there are significant variations in the respective scale and duration of the operation of the different institutions, the Commission is required to equally address all the specified matters of public concern in respect of each setting.

For ease of reference, the Mother and Baby Homes and the selected sample of County Homes are as follows:

(A) Mother and Baby Homes:

1. Ard Mhuire, Dunboyne, Co Meath;

2. Belmont (Flatlets), Belmont Ave, Dublin 4;

3. Bessboro House, Blackrock, Cork;

4. Bethany Home, originally Blackhall Place, Dublin 7 and from 1934 Orwell Road, Rathgar, Dublin 6;

5. Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home, Tuam, Co. Galway;

6. Denny House, Eglington Rd, Dublin 4, originally Magdalen Home, 8 Lower Leeson St, Dublin 2;

7.Kilrush, Cooraclare Rd, Co. Clare;

8. Manor House, Castlepollard, Co Westmeath;

9. Ms. Carr’s (Flatlets), 16 Northbrook Rd, Dublin 6;

10. Regina Coeli Hostel, North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7,

11. Sean Ross Abbey, Roscrea, Co Tipperary;

12. St. Gerard’s, originally 39, Mountjoy Square, Dublin 1.

13. St. Patrick’s, Navan Road, Dublin 7, originally known as Pelletstown; and subsequent transfer to Eglington House, Eglington Rd, Dublin 4, and

14. The Castle, Newtowncunningham, Co. Donegal.

(B) County Homes

1. St. Kevin's Institution (Dublin Union)

2. Stranorlar County Home, Co. Donegal (St. Joseph's)

3. Cork City County Home (St. Finbarr's)

4. Thomastown County Home, Co. Kilkenny (St. Columba's).