Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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277. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on providing additional funding to the Irish Research Council for a scheme dedicated to working with survivors to research the mother and baby homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3189/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation's final report was published on 12 January 2021 by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

Recommendation no. 38 of the report states that ‘a number of scholarships should be created for further research in memory of all the children who died, with preference given to children from disadvantaged households.

My Department will engage with Minister Roderic O’Gorman and his officials to assist with progressing this recommendation, in particular its scope, how a scheme could be established that best achieves both the spirit and the letter of this recommendation of the Commission, and the most appropriate partnerships with government agencies for delivery of such a scheme.

This could include the Irish Research Council, which already works with government departments and agencies in the administration of research scholarships and fellowships.

There is no doubt that an appropriately-structured scheme can deliver high quality research that adds to our knowledge, not just of the children that are central to this period of our history, but of the lives and conditions of children in Ireland more broadly, particularly disadvantaged or vulnerable children.