Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 March 2025
632. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are any survivors of mother and baby homes represented on any of the committees overseeing the Centre for Research and Remembrance, given the centre's purpose to serve survivors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13615/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Centre for Research and Remembrance, to be located in Sean McDermott Street, Dublin 1, will comprise a museum and exhibition space, a research centre and repository of records related to institutional trauma in the 20th century, a garden space for reflection and remembrance, social housing, further and higher educational facilities, and community-based family and parenting support facilities.
A Steering Group, chaired by Mr Martin Fraser, former Secretary General to the Government and Ambassador to Great Britain, was established in April 2022 and is driving the overall coordinated development of the National Centre campus.
The Steering Group recognises that it is crucial that the National Centre project is informed by all relevant stakeholders. An initial, open consultation on the National Centre ran from July to September 2023. A report analysing the almost 220 responses, which was prepared by an independent research company, was published in May 2024 alongside a response from the Steering Group outlining its key commitments. A strong message from the consultation was the need for survivor involvement in the decision-making process for the National Centre, in particular the museum and archive elements.
Following the initial consultation the Special Advocate for Survivors, Patricia Carey, joined the National Centre Steering Group in March 2024 to support and facilitate ongoing engagement with survivors and affected persons.
In addition, a series of in-person events were held in late 2024/early 2025 in Dublin, Galway, Cork and London, as well as an online event, so that so that survivors and affected persons, and their family members and advocates, could hear about and feedback on the National Centre. Attendees at these events heard about high-level plans for the buildings on the site and work to date by the National Archives and National Museum on the development of the archival repository and museum spaces. Attendees had an opportunity to participate in discussions about what they would like to see contained in the National Centre and valuable feedback was gathered.
This feedback will help to inform the ongoing work on the National Centre, and future survivor involvement and engagement in the project as it moves forward.
As stated by the Steering Group, survivors will be fully involved in the co-creation of the design and content of museum exhibitions and, more broadly, the voice of survivors will be at the heart of the Centre. The Steering Group has also noted the importance of ongoing survivor involvement in key decisions related to the National Centre after it opens.
