Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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189. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to meet with representatives and members of groups (details supplied) in her consultations on the matter of the grave site at Tuam. [41641/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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While acknowledging the extraordinarily difficult legal and practical challenges, I shared my personal perspective on the decisions which must be taken and outlined my intention to bring comprehensive proposals on the future of the site to Government.  This work is now at an advanced stage.

I also understand that representatives from these groups were actively involved in the independently facilitated public consultation process around the future of the Tuam site, and participated in the Tuam and Dublin briefings with members of the Expert Technical Group. 

As matters progress, I will continue to engage with all parties to ensure that the diversity of perspectives and concerns are recognised and that, even in the absence of consensus, we might hope to proceed in collaboration and partnership. 

I have engaged with representatives of the groups on a number of occasions, including most recently at a public meeting in Tuam on the 23rd July of this year. On that occasion I met with former residents, with relatives of those who lived for a time in the Home and with those who live near the area now. It was a good, if at times difficult and emotional, conversation and I was privileged to have been able to directly hear the views of those most directly impacted by this most sensitive matter.