Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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222. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a director of authorised interventions has been appointed; when he expects an appointment; and if he will confirm whether Bessborough will be looked at alongside Tuam. [15396/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Last October the Government made an Order, under the Institutional Burials Act 2022, to direct the establishment of an independent Office to lead an intervention at the site of the former Mother and Baby institution in Tuam, Co. Galway. The making of the Order followed on from Resolutions in the Dáil and Seanad in September approving the draft Order that was agreed by Government in July. As required by the legislation, the Government Order identifies the Tuam site as the land in respect of which the Director of the independent Office may perform his or her functions.

The recruitment campaign for the Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam, which was launched by the Public Appointments Service last November, is almost concluded. I hope to very shortly be in a position to appoint and announce the successful candidate and look forward to sharing further details at that time.

The Institutional Burials Act was developed in response to the abhorrent situation at the Tuam site. To avoid delays in responding to any similar situations that may arise in the future, the Act is not site specific and allows for excavations and identification programmes at other institutional sites should manifestly inappropriate burials be discovered.

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 there 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 location of burials is, sadly, unknown, a proposal to establish an Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention to oversee excavation, recovery and identification of inappropriately buried remains at that site cannot be brought forward under the Act.

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.

I have also publicly emphasised my views that any proposed development in the grounds of Bessborough should have due regard to the Commission's 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.