‘No plans’ for Government to fund survey at Bessborough

The Government has no plans to fund a physical survey at the site of a former mother and baby home in Bessborough, the Dáil has heard.

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, told the Dáil he was not aware of any detailed funding proposals for such works.

He was speaking in response to a question from Cork South West TD and Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns who had asked Mr O’Gorman if he will fund a physical survey of the estate.

Mr O’Gorman said that one of the most tragic aspects of what happened in Bessborough “was the uncertainty regarding the burial places of the many children”. A commission of investigation carried out cartographic and landscape assessments and a site survey at the former mother and baby home, and Mr O’Gorman said the report concluded “that it is likely that some of the children who died in Bessborough are buried on the grounds but it was not able to find the physical or documentary evidence”.

“As no evidence of locations was found, the commission did not consider it feasible to excavate the full available site which now amounts to 60 acres, or the full original site which would have been over 200 acres,” he said.

“Right now, I am not aware of any detailed proposals for Government funding to undertake a further survey of the Bessborough grounds. Given the scale of the current estate and the wider estate, excavation would have a significant cost and we must recognise that.”

Ms Cairns raised concerns that the full extent of infant deaths in Bessborough is not known.

“At least 928 babies died in Bessborough but only 64 graves have been identified,” said Ms Cairns.

“The very least the State owes survivors is to find the bodies of their children.

“We need an investigation of the grounds to establish the location of the remains of the babies and to conduct a sensitive excavation and a dignified exhumation of any of the remains.

“The entire site at Bessborough should be subject to a compulsory purchase order, CPO, and established as a memorial site.”

She said that the State had provided a survey for the excavation of the former mother and baby home site in Tuam, Co Galway, but Mr O’Gorman said there was not “the same degree of unanimity” from survivors regarding the Cork site.

He said that he had visited the site at Bessborough with survivors and former residents.

“I know there are differing views on the excavation and reburial of human remains at that site.

“I absolutely recognise there is further work to be done to try to bring about that degree of consensus.”

He said that a special advocate for survivors is now in place and he will talk to her to see if they can advance the process.