Bessborough: Minister says 'all options' will be considered for future use of the site

Norma Foley also said she will push for cheaper childcare fees in this October’s budget

Minister for children, disability and equality Norma Foley was speaking to the media at the the EU high level conference at Dublin Castle today, Thursday. Picture: Julien Behal

The children’s minister has said “all options” will be kept on the table when considering future uses for the former mother and baby home site at Bessborough in Cork.

Earlier this month, Taoiseach Micheál Martin intervened after An Coimisiún Pleanála upheld planning permission for the building of 106 apartments on the 60-acre site.

Planning had initially been granted in February by Cork City Council after councillors had in 2022 approved the rezoning of swathes of Bessborough for residential development.

This was despite the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes finding a year earlier that burial records for 859 children and 19 women were missing from Bessborough, and it was “highly likely” some of them had been buried on the grounds.

Speaking at Dublin Castle on Thursday, Norma Foley said she believes all solutions to the issue should be explored.

'So much trauma' 

“I really do understand the sensitivity to this site," Ms Foley said.

"It is still associated with so much trauma for people who were there, and indeed, people who are part of the family of those who have been there. I sincerely mean that all options [are explored].

“I know that there isn’t unanimity, for example, amongst the survivors themselves. I know different people have different views, and so I think it is a positive and proactive move that all options would be looked at.

“So, whatever those options might be in terms of moving forward, they need to be looked at.

“I welcome the fact that the local authority is going to engage now with the developers, and we will see. I don’t think anything should be off the table, really.”

Ms Foley also said she will push for cheaper childcare fees in this October’s budget, but did not say if the Government’s commitment to a €200 per month per child cap could be reached in the lifetime of this Government.

€1.5bn budget

“I’m going in [to budget talks] as always, looking for the maximum support that we can gain. You know, we have quite a considerable budget at this point in time. It’s €1.5bn, and half a billion of all of that is actually going to the national childcare scheme, which is supporting parents in terms of the fees that they’re paying.

“So yes, I’m going in to seek the actual maximum that we can get. I’ll negotiate right throughout the summer, right down to the very last minute to get the maximum amount of money that we can to make a considerable difference and deliver on the programme for government commitment.”

Ms Foley said that while there have been high-profile exits from the core funding scheme, which will lead to higher fees, this year, five providers have left, but 50 providers have come into the scheme.

• Paul Hosford, Deputy Political Editor