Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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520. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if other sites similar to Tuam have been identified by her Department as necessitating excavations in which the potential for the presence of human remains exists. [4013/19]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The statutory Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related matters) is tasked with examining burial arrangements for persons who died while resident in these institutions. My Department is not separately investigating these matters.

In its fourth interim report, which I published last week, the Commission reiterates the significant challenge of investigating the burial arrangements in respect of a number of these institutions. The report notes that people have recently come forward with additional information and the Commission is in the process of checking this information. As part of this process, the Commission recently commenced geophysical surveys on the burial grounds associated with the former Sean Ross Abbey institution in Co. Tipperary.

Furthermore, the Commission plans to submit a detailed interim report on its investigations into burial arrangements by the 15 March 2019. The report will include the Commission’s assessment of burial arrangements at the site of the former Tuam institution and other major institutions.

I will examine this report and consider any findings or recommendations made at that time in consultation with my Government colleagues.