Public Consultation on the National Centre for Research and Remembrance

Introduction

In March 2022, Government approved high-level proposals for a National Centre for Research and Remembrance, to be located on the site of the former Magdalen Laundry on Sean McDermott Street in Dublin 1.

This Centre will stand as a site of conscience to honour equally all those who were resident in Industrial Schools, Magdalen Laundries, Mother and Baby Institutions, Reformatories, and related institutions.

Although physically situated in Dublin, content from the National Centre will be accessible in other parts of Ireland, and abroad. This will be made possible through the provision of digital access to some records and exhibits. In addition, physical presences will be developed elsewhere, including in conjunction with some local museums, to enable survivors to visit more easily. The National Centre will be a national institution, which achieves a global and national reach, as well as having strong connections to, and benefits for, the local community.

The National Centre will comprise:

• a museum and exhibition space, the development of which will be led by the National Museum of Ireland;
• a research centre and repository of records related to institutional trauma in the 20th century, which will form part of the National Archives; and
• a garden space for reflection and remembrance.

In addition, social housing units, educational, family and parenting supports will also be constructed, which will make a valuable contribution to the social and economic development of Dublin’s North East Inner City.

Work is underway to progress the planning and development stages of the National Centre, and a Steering Group - chaired by the former Secretary General to the Government and current Ambassador of Ireland to the United Kingdom, Mr. Martin Fraser - is driving this work.

As part of its work, the Steering Group – on behalf of Government – is now inviting submissions from interested parties, to an initial, open consultation process. This consultation will form an important part of the planning work for the project.

Consultation process

We are now inviting submissions from interested parties with a view to informing work on elements of the National Centre project, including:

• the museum and exhibition space;
• the research centre and repository of records related to institutional trauma in the 20th century; and
• the space for reflection and remembrance.

The consultation period will run from 25 July to 15 September, 2023. Any submissions received after this date may not be considered.

Important Note: Targeted consultations on specific elements of the Centre - for example the National Museum, including the interpretation experience; the National Archive; the garden space for reflection; and the educational, family and parenting supports - will take place in due course. We also welcome submissions from historians, researchers, archivists and those in the local community on this initial consultation.

How to Respond

There are several ways to respond to this consultation:

• Complete the online questionnaire, available at the following link:

https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/NCRRConsultation2023

• Complete this template in Word below,

and send it by email to nationalcentre@equality.gov.ie, with the subject line ‘National Centre Consultation’.

• Complete the template in Word below,

and send it by post to:

National Centre Consultation

Memorialisation and Historic Burials Unit

Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Block 1, Miesian Plaza

50-58 Baggot Street Lower

Dublin 2

D02 XWI4

Freedom of Information/Publication of Responses

All the responses received to this consultation will be reviewed and taken into consideration in the development of the National Centre. Responses will be collated into a published report and extracts from submissions or survey answers may be quoted in the report. All responses by individuals will be anonymised.

All submissions and comments submitted to the Department for this purpose are subject to release in line with the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2014. Responses received are also subject to Data Protection legislation - see the Department's Privacy Notice.

All submissions will be retained until such time as they are appraised by the National Archives to determine whether they warrant permanent retention as archives in accordance with the department’s obligations under the terms of the National Archives Act, 1986 (as amended).

Queries

If you have any queries about this consultation or how to submit a response you can contact the department by email at nationalcentre@equality.gov.ie