Test Excavations at Sean Ross Abbey
The Commission has recently conducted geophysical testing on the burial grounds located on the site of Sean Ross Abbey in Roscrea Co. Tipperary. Following the initial geophysical testing, the Commission began test excavations on Monday 18 February and this process is expected to last 3 weeks.The Commission is due to deliver an interim report next month in relation to Burials at the sites of former Mother and Baby Homes. The Minister intends to publish this report as quickly as possible after she has an op-portunity to study its contents in conjunction with her Government colleagues
Commission of Investigation Extension Granted by Government
On Tuesday 22nd January Government agreed to a request from the Commission for an extension of one year to allow it to complete its final report. The request was made in the Commission’s 4th Interim Report which was submitted to Minister Zappone in December of last year.Speaking after the Government meeting, Minister Zappone said,“I know this is not the news which survivors and their families wanted to hear. I know they will be disappointed by this development but the Commission is confident that with this additional time it can comprehensively report on its terms of reference.
Government approves an extension of time to bring certainty to the timeframe for completion of the Commission’s work
New timeline does not delay the programme of action on the Tuam site
Detailed interim report on burials to be submitted in March 2019
Statement by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone TD
22/01/2019 - The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone TD, has today (22 January 2019) published the Fourth Interim Report from the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes.
In the Report, the Commission provides an update on its work with a particular focus on the practical and logistical challenges which must be factored into managing a statutory investigation of this scale and complexity.
At its meeting today the Government agreed to a request from the Commission for an extension of one year to allow it to complete its final report. This additional time will ensure the investigation can complete the analysis of diverse sources of information as it seeks to comprehensively address the wide range of concerns referred to it.
Minister Receives First Report of the Collaborative Forum
14/01/2019 - In mid-December members of the Collaborative Forum met in Miesian Plaza to present Minister Katherine Zappone with the Forum’s first report.
The Forum was established to facilitate and empower persons who endured these institutions to contribute to decisions on matters of concern to them and their families. In this way the voices of survivors can be a significant input into the Government’s response to these hugely complex and sensitive matters.
Collaborative Forum
07/12/2018 - The Collaborative Forum has now met on four occasions and is due to meet again in early December. Minutes of the July, September and October meetings are currently available to view on our website.
We understand that the members of the Forum are working hard to produce a first report with a focus on priority issues around health and well being supports, identity and memorialisation.
Minister Zappone would like to thank the Forum Members for their dedication and the hard work they have shown in 2018 and she looks forward to further engagement with the Forum in 2019.
14/09/2018 -The second meeting of the Collaborative Forum was held on Wednesday 12th of September in City Hall, Dublin.
The membership of the three sub-committees, as envisioned in the Charter for the Collaborative Forum, was agreed by Forum members
02/11/2018 - On 23rd October last, the Government approved Minister Zappone’s recommendation for the forensic excavation of the available site of the former Mother and Baby Home, Tuam, Co. Galway. The Government has agreed to implement the multi-disciplinary framework, known as Humanitarian Forensic Action, as the appropriate response to the discovery of children’s remains interred at this site. The actions which will now be taken are: