Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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177. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the correspondence his Department has had with the Collaborative Forum on Mother and Baby Homes during 2020; the future plans for the forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34375/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I am conscious of the significant work undertaken by the Collaborative Forum to identify the priority concerns and needs of survivors and I commend the Forum for their efforts.

During 2020 my department has had a number of both email correspondence and phone calls with members of the Collaborative Forum on various issues. I have previously stated my commitment to establishing renewed engagement with survivors and their advocates,. As an important first step in meeting this commitment I have begun to engage personally with members of the Collaborative Forum and other stakeholders.

I am exploring the mechanisms to further the engagement and consultation with former residents, their families and advocates to ensure that they will be central to the formulation and delivery of a comprehensive State response to recent Report from the Commission of Investigation.