Minister wants all options explored for Bessborough site

Minister for Children Norma Foley has called for all avenues to be explored concerning the future of the Bessborough site in Cork. An Coimisiún Pleanála recently upheld planning permission for a development of 106 apartments on the grounds of the former mother-and-baby home, a decision that has faced years of opposition from survivors and campaigners.

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I'd like to see what all those options might be going forward, I think we need to come to an accommodation that will satisfy and put to rest I think the fears and the hurt of those who lived in Bessborough, those who experienced Bessborough, their families.

The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes estimated that 900 babies died at the Bessborough site. Minister Foley stated that she cannot intervene in the independent planning process. However, she noted that Taoiseach Micheál Martin has taken a proactive step by asking the local authority to engage with the developer to explore all options.

"I'd like to see what all those options might be going forward," Foley said. "I think we need to come to an accommodation that will satisfy and put to rest I think the fears and the hurt of those who lived in Bessborough, those who experienced Bessborough, their families."

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The planning process had to be allowed to continue independently without any Government intervention, that has happened and it is now concluded.

Foley emphasized that the planning process had to conclude independently before any government intervention. Now that it has concluded, the Taoiseach has personally intervened to encourage engagement between the local authority and the developer to explore all possibilities.

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And now because it is concluded, the Taoiseach himself has personally intervened and the Taoiseach has said there should now be engagement between the local authority and the developer and let's explore all options.