The government has approved plans to establish an independent office to oversee the excavation of the Tuam Mother and Baby Home site.
Minister Roderic O’Gorman’s plans to establish an Office of Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam were approved by the government on Wednesday.
The independent Director will oversee the excavation, exhumation, and analysis, and final reburial of the Mother and Baby Home site and human remains.
This comes after the Institutional Burials Act 2022 was signed into law this month.
The matter will now be brought before the Oireachtas when it reconvenes in Autumn, seeking a resolution approving the appointment.
The Minister said of the matter, “These are the final steps necessary in order to appoint a Director and start the excavation in Tuam.”
“Affected families and, indeed, the people of Ireland have waited a long time for this,” Roderic O’Gorman said.
“If approved by the Houses I will appoint a Director in the Autumn with a view to starting the excavation as soon as possible.”