Tuam Home Report Now Due in 2018

Galway Independent
August 3, 2016

http://www.galwayindependent.com/news/topics/articles/2016/08/03/4124280-tuam-home-report-now-due-in-2018/

The Galway historian who uncovered the ‘Tuam Babies’ story has spoken of her disappointment that an investigation into Mother and Baby Homes will not include adoptions.

The Commission investigating 18 Mother and Baby Homes across the country, including the one in Tuam, was last week granted an extension of time to complete its three reports into the homes. However, it will not now include adoptions that took place outside these institutions.

All reports must now be completed by February 2018. Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Katherine Zappone said the extension of time was to accommodate “the large number of witnesses coming forward”.

At least 150 witnesses have come forward since the Commission was set up in January 2015 and it is expected this could rise to 500.

Speaking this week, Tuam historian Catherine Corless said, “I was disappointed with Minister Zappone’s statement on the illegal adoption front and also for the group who have campaigned for so long to have everyone included in the Inquiry.”

Ms Corless added, “I did not expect any results as yet from the Inquiry Team as regards Tuam and the children’s graveyard. I feel we will have to wait until 2018.”

The Commission has stated that it remains committed to completing its investigations within the three year time-frame provided in its Terms of Reference.

In a statement, Minister Zappone also said that this extension will not delay any Government response to the findings of the Commission.

“The extension is to ensure that all new information discovered is accurately recorded to give a full understanding of the social history involved.”

Minister Zappone said that allowing the additional time requested will “significantly enhance our understanding of how society treated vulnerable mothers and children in these homes, and how attitudes, policy and legislation changed over the period”.

She accepted that the extension will cause disappointment and said she would meet representative groups in September.

An interim report was published last week but is focused entirely on the extension of time required by the Commission. A follow-up report is now due in September.

Anyone who would like to contact the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes can log onto www.mbhcoi.ie, email info@mbhcoi.ie or contact 1800 80-66-88 (ROI) or +353-1-6445088 (outside ROI).