Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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40. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the plans to address the urgency of a request by a group (details supplied) for a meeting regarding the report on ground scans at Sean Ross Abbey, Roscrea, County Tipperary, and the subsequent determination from the Department regarding further investigations; when such a meeting will be held; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43540/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes included a Report of Forensic Archaeological Investigations at Sean Ross Abbey Mother and Baby Home Children’s Burial Ground. The Commission was satisfied that the forensic report provided clear evidence that the coffined remains of children under the age of one are buried in the designated burial ground. It noted that without complete excavation it was not possible to say conclusively that all of the children who died in Sean Ross were buried in the designated burial ground and that it did not consider that further investigation was warranted.

Following publication of the Commission’s final report I engaged with the group referenced in the Deputy’s question in relation to their concerns that an area beyond the acknowledged burial ground may also contain graves.

Last year I provided funding to the group to support them in undertaking a survey of land adjacent to the known burial ground, which was not subject to forensic investigation by the Commission.

The group submitted a copy of the report of the survey to my Department and, as there is no expertise in the Department to assess it, the Chief Archaeologist in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage was asked to review it.

As the Deputy may be aware, in providing a copy of that review to the group, I offered to meet with them to discuss the matter. I note that the group responded positively to that request and my officials have now made contact with the group to arrange a meeting.