Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Consultation with survivors and relative groups was an important part of development of the Institutional Burials Act 2022. After taking Office I visited the site of the former Mother and Baby institution in Tuam, Co. Galway, and met with survivors and relatives of those who died while resident there. I carefully considered the issues raised by them in the development of the Act, which provides the underlying legislative basis for an intervention, whereby the remains of those who died in residential institutions, and who were buried in a manifestly inappropriate manner, may be recovered and re-interred in a respectful and appropriate way.

On 4 October, the Government made an Order under the Act to establish an independent Office to lead an intervention at the Tuam site. The making of the Order follows on from Resolutions in the Dáil and Seanad in September approving the draft Order that was agreed by Government in July. Progress at the various stages, including in relation to the recruitment campaign for a Director to oversee the intervention at the site, has been communicated to survivors and any other stakeholders who have expressed an interest in receiving updates on these issues from my Department through our dedicated mailing list.

I have also engaged with groups associated with other former institutions and I am aware of concerns in relation to the appropriate treatment of sites as well as calls for investigations.

In relation to Bessborough, the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related matters concluded that it is likely that some of the children who died while resident there are buried in the grounds but was unable to find any physical or documentary evidence of this. 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.

I have publicly emphasised my view that any proposed development at the Bessborough site should have due regard to the Commissions’ reports and give adequate consideration to the views of all survivors and family members, including requests for appropriate access and respectful memorialisation in due course.

In addition, last November, the Minister for Housing Local Government and Heritage wrote to all City and County Councils requesting that Development Plan processes give adequate consideration to incorporating appropriate measures to ensure the protection of unrecorded burial sites associated with an institution.