Tuam Mothers and Baby site. Photo: Ray Ryan

Cabinet to receive final report on Tuam home site next week

 

THE Minister for Children Katherine Zappone has confirmed that the Report of the Expert Technical Group on the site of the former Mother and Baby Home in Tuam will be considered at Cabinet next week.
She says that, with the agreement of Government, she would then publish the report.
Last evening (Monday) the Minister announced that a one year extension has been given to the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes.
Minister Zappone published the Third Interim Report from the commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes. The Commission advised of its progress in recording the personal accounts of the large number of former residents who have sought to assist its work by sharing their experiences.
However, a group representing some of the survivors of homes around the country say they are outraged at a further delay to the final report. It says that many survivors are elderly and dying and many have died since details regarding the Tuam home emerged.
Detailed options in relation to the future of the Tuam Mother and Baby Home site will be brought before cabinet by Minister Zappone next week.
Last month the Minister received the final report from the Expert Technical Group that had been charged to examine possible options for the burial site. It's understood that the document will be published before the end of the year.
The report explores a number of possible options for managing the Tuam site and appropriately responding to the discovery of interred human remains by the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes last year.
Survivors of the former home believe excavation of human bones interred in an underground tank is the only option that will dignify the memories of babies and children who died at the institution.