Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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996. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the findings of the chief archaeologist in reviewing the survey of land adjacent to the known burial ground in Sean Ross Abbey in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3299/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I am very conscious of the pain caused by the deaths of children who were resident in the former Mother and Baby institution in Sean Ross Abbey.

The investigation of burial arrangements in Mother and Baby institutions, including the former institution at Sean Ross Abbey, was an important part of the work of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes. The Mother and Baby Homes’ Commission’s Final Report included a Report of Forensic Archaeological Investigations at Sean Ross Abbey Mother and Baby Home Children’s Burial Ground. The report, which was commissioned on foot of concerns about the burial ground in Sean Ross Abbey, found that infant human burials were located across the Children’s Burial ground and these had not been impacted by any utilities or drainage works. The report notes that coffins, or evidence of coffins, were located with the majority of remains (84%).

As set out in its final report, 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.

I understand that, following publication of the Commission’s final report, the then Minister engaged with a local group in relation to their concerns that an area beyond the acknowledged burial ground at Sean Ross Abbey may also contain graves. In 2023, funding was provided to the group to support them in undertaking a survey of the land in question, which was not subject to investigation by the Commission.

The group submitted a copy of the survey report 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. The Chief Archaeologist’s review, which has been shared with the group, concludes that the survey report is inconclusive, with no clear evidence of burials. I understand, however, that the group continues to have concerns in this regard.