Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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631. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth her plans to purchase the remaining Bessborough grounds; her plans for memorialisation on the site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15042/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I am very conscious of the hurt felt by survivors and family members of people who died in Bessborough. One of the most tragic aspects of what happened is the uncertainty regarding the burial place of many children who were resident there.

The investigation of burial arrangements in Mother and Baby institutions, including Bessborough, was an important part of the work of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes. The Commission carried out cartographic and landscape assessments of possible unrecorded burial arrangements at the site. It also carried out a site survey and followed up with people on responses to its appeal seeking information about burials. However, it was unable to find any physical or documentary evidence of burials of the children who died at Bessborough in the grounds. 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, or indeed the former 200 acre estate, parts of which have now been built on.

I have no plans to purchase the remaining area of the Bessborough grounds and I am aware that there are differing views among survivor groups about how the site should be treated.

The Government’s response to the legacy of Mother and Baby Institutions, including in relation to memorialisation, is set out in the Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions.

Actions related to local memorialisation are being progressed by a working group that has been established by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to progress actions involving local authorities. I understand that the working group’s report, which will include guidelines for how local authorities engage with survivors, including in relation to local memorialisation, is at an advanced drafting stage.

In addition, in November 2022, the then 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.