Full-scale excavation of Tuam mother and baby home to start in early 2023

Children's Minister Roderic O'Gorman said the Office of Public Works has also been tasked with locating a site in the area, which can be used as a support base for the operations. File photo: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

Full-scale excavations of the former mother and baby home site in Tuam will begin early next year, the Children's Minister has indicated.

Roderic O'Gorman said a motion to establish a special agency to oversee the work will go through the Seanad next week. This will allow the Government to go to the public appointments service and begin the process of appointing the director.