Written answers

Thursday, 7 October 2021

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Photo of Donnchadh Ó LaoghaireDonnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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125. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he has taken to progress a thorough investigation of the grounds at the former Bessborough Mother and Baby Home in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47858/21]

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I maintain a close interest in the Bessborough site, and I will continue to engage with survivors and the local authorities in terms of protecting this site.

I know from my engagement with survivors that respectful treatment of burial grounds is an issue of huge sensitivity.

The grounds of the former mother and baby institution at Bessborough extended originally to around 200 acres. In its Fifth Interim Report, the Commission of Investigation noted that 'About 100 acres were sold in 1973 for the building of the N25 and for social housing. The Commission understands that there are about 60 acres of ground around the building now.'

The Commission concluded that it is likely that burials did take place in the grounds of Bessborough but that the location of burials at Bessborough could not be ascertained, that the site was too large to feasibly excavate and that there was insufficient evidence to support a finding of the likely location of burials.

It is my understanding that, currently, the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary retains part of the site; some land has been transferred to the HSE; and other land is owned by private parties who intend to develop the site for housing, subject to the appropriate permissions.

As the Deputy will be aware, I made submissions to An Bord Pleanála and Cork City Council as part of the normal planning process in respect of two planning applications made on the Bessborough lands requesting that due consideration be given to the sensitivity of the site and the conclusions of the commission’s report. Like himself, I attended and made an oral submission to the Oral Hearing on the SHD application. This application related to a particular part of the site which is identified on a 1950s ordnance survey map as a burial ground and which campaigners consider to be the most likely location of burials.

As the land in question is in private ownership, it is not open to Government to procure or carry out investigations there. However, it is notable that An Bord Pleanála has refused permission to develop the land because it 'is not satisfied that the site was not previously used as, and does not contain, a children's burial ground and considers that there are reasonable concerns in relation to the potential for a children's burial ground within the site [...]'.

I have recently written to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage asking him for support in encouraging local authorities to provide specific protections within their Development Plan processes for any burial sites that may be linked to former Mother and Baby Homes or County Homes. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has informed me that he is satisfied the Planning and Development Act 2000 enables local authorities to protect any potential burial sites from possible harmful development. I also know that Cork City Council has committed to undertaking its development plan process and I would urge the councillors to take account of the Commission's conclusions in the zoning of the land.

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