Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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252. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 29 of 30 March 2023, the steps he is taking to examine evidence presented to the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related matters concerning the burial of human remains at the former mother-and-baby home site (details supplied) and to engage regarding studies of the site that have already be conducted to assist in ascertaining the likely location of the burial grounds. [22225/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The investigation of burial arrangements in Mother and Baby institutions, including Bessborough, was an important part of the work of the independent Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related matters. The Commission carried out cartographic and landscape assessments of possible unrecorded burial arrangements at the Bessborough site and also followed up with people on responses to its appeal seeking information about burials in Bessborough. The Commission concluded that it is likely that some of the children who died at Bessborough 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.

As part of the Government’s response to the publication of the Commission’s final report, and as noted in my reply of 30 March, 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 view that any proposed development at the Bessborough site 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.