An Coimisiún Pleanála decision on Bessborough apartments raised in Dáil debate

A decision by An Coimisiún Pleanála to grant planning permission for an apartment development on the former Bessborough mother and baby home site has been raised in the Dáil.

Speaking during Leaders' Questions, Social Democrats leader Deputy Holly Cairns criticised the decision, describing the move as a failure by the State. Deputy Cairns raised concerns regarding the potential presence of unmarked graves, citing findings from the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes which indicated that burials were highly likely to have occurred on the wider grounds. She called on the Government to acquire the land using a compulsory purchase order (CPO), to unseal burial records within the commission's archive, and to request the Attorney General to order an inquest into the deaths at the institution under the Coroners Act 1962.

In response, Taoiseach Micheál Martin defended the independence of An Coimisiún Pleanála, stating that the planning body is independent of the Government and the Oireachtas. The Taoiseach noted that there is no evidence of burials on the specific site designated for the housing application, adding that the original Bessborough site comprised 200 acres and now stands at 60 acres.

The Taoiseach also defended the State's handling of the mother and baby home archives, stating that previous legislation was introduced to protect the records from being destroyed and to facilitate the creation of a national archive centre.