Departmental Offices

Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023

Monday, 11 September 2023

Questions (1418)

Seán Canney

Question:

1418. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he intends to set up the office in Tuam of the director in charge of the exhuming of the site in Tuam in order that the director and their staff can be based close to the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38166/23]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Last October 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, Co. Galway. The making of the Order followed on from Resolutions in the Dáil and Seanad in September approving the draft Order that was agreed by Government in July 2022.

The Office of Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam was established for a period of 2.5 years by Ministerial Order in March 2023 and in May 2023 the Minister appointed Mr Daniel MacSweeney to the position of Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam.

In line with the legislation the Director will be engaging a number of appropriately qualified experts from a range of disciplines to undertake the forensic excavation, recovery and post-recovery analysis processes at the Tuam site. In order to try and avoid any unnecessary delays my Department worked with the Office of Public Works to secure a premises in Galway in advance of the of the appointment of a Director so that an office would be available for administrative staff to undertake the preparatory and ongoing work necessary to support the intervention, including the recruitment of the experts.

Now that the Director is in post he is best placed to assess the accommodation requirements, including in relation to office and laboratory space, and is liaising with the OPW in this regard.

It is important to note that regardless of the location of the premises, the Director will be engaging on an ongoing basis with local residents in Tuam as well as other stakeholders in relation to the intervention at the site.