Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 October 2024
380. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the planned excavation on the site of the mother and baby institution in Tuam, Galway; and the date on which exhumation will commence. [38535/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn October 2022 the Government made an Order, under the Institutional Burials Act 2022, to direct the establishment of an independent Office to lead an intervention at the site of the former Mother and Baby institution in Tuam.
In March 2023, I formally established the Office of Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam and in May I appointed Mr Daniel MacSweeney as the Director to head up that Office and to oversee the excavation, recovery, identification (if possible) and reburial, in a respectful and appropriate way, of the remains of the children at the site of the former Mother and Baby institution in Tuam.
Following his appointment, the Director’s initial priority has been engagement with key stakeholders, including families and survivors of the Tuam institution. The Director has also been building the necessary foundations to deliver a project of this unique complexity, difficulty and scale in line with international standards and best practice. He has focused on the necessary preparatory works, including the recruitment of staff, establishment of administrative structures, site preparation, the securing of lab premises and the engagement of experts, all of which allows for the excavation to commence.
The Director has recently appointed a multi-disciplinary consultant to design the civil and structural engineering part of the excavation work and to assist in the process of procuring the services of a works contractor. I understand from the Director that preliminary works at the Tuam site will take place over the coming months, followed by the commencement of full excavation works in early 2025.
The Director will consult with family members, survivors and local residents about planned works and the details of the excavation.
