Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
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807. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will visit Sean Ross Abbey; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38963/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I am committed to ongoing, open engagement with survivors and their representatives. In this regard I have received an invitation to visit the burial site associated with the former Mother and Baby institution in Sean Ross Abbey and it is being given active consideration.

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. At the request of the Commission, which had specific investigative powers, a forensic archaeological investigation was conducted at the children’s burial ground at Sean Ross Abbey. 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 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 and he has also visited the site. 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 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. The Chief Archaeologist’s review, which has been shared with the group concerned, 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.