Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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430. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Cork City Council cannot locate burial records for a person (details supplied); if his Department will assist in this search; and if he will explain the lack of burial records. [35259/22]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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431. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Cork City Council cannot locate burial records for a person (details supplied); if his Department will assist in this search; and if he will explain the lack of burial records. [35260/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 430 and 431 together.

I am very conscious of the pain experienced by families in relation to the deaths of children at former Mother and Baby Homes, including Bessborough, and the uncertainty surrounding some of their burial locations. 

The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes concluded that it is likely that some of the children who died in Bessborough are buried in the grounds but was unable to find any physical or documentary evidence of this. The Commission carried out cartographic and landscape assessments of possible unrecorded burial arrangements and also followed up with people on responses to its appeal seeking information about burials in Bessborough. As no evidence of locations was found, the Commission did not consider it feasible to excavate the full available site, which amounts to 60 acres.  As the land is in private ownership, it is not open to the Government to procure or carry out investigations there.

The Commission also examined the possibility that former residents may have been buried in other locations. It examined the surviving burial records relating to the eight burial grounds that operated in Cork City and its surrounding hinterland between 1922 and 1998 but was only able to confirm the burial locations of 63 children who were associated with Bessborough.

I have engaged with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage with a view to supporting local authorities, including Cork City Council, in incorporating appropriate policies on protection of burial sites into their development plans.

It is a matter for relevant planning authorities, Cork City Council and An Bord Pleanála in this instance, to make determinations regarding planned developments in the grounds of Bessborough. I have consistently highlighted that it is important to have regard to any need for further investigations by appropriate experts in relation to works commencing on a site like Bessborough.  I have also emphasised that any development should give adequate consideration to requests from survivors and their families for appropriate access and respectful memorialisation. 

In 2021, 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. An Bord Pleanála refused permission to develop the area in question because it was not satisfied that the site was not previously used as a children’s burial ground.

I am committed to continuing to raise the importance of respectful treatment of sites linked to former Mother and Baby institutions and promote engagement with relatives of the deceased, former residents and other stakeholders for that purpose.

The issue of the management of burial records relating to local graveyards is a matter for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.