National Centre – Background and progress to date

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 spent time in Industrial Schools, Magdalen Laundries, Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions, Reformatories, and related institutions.

The National Centre will stand as part of our national institutions and 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.

Work on the development of the museum and exhibition space is being led by the National Museum of Ireland, while work on the research centre and repository of records related to institutional trauma in the 20th century, is being led by the National Archives.

Although physically situated in Dublin, elements of 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, it is envisaged that physical presences will be developed elsewhere, including in conjunction with some local museums, to enable survivors to visit more easily. The National Centre will achieve a global and national reach, as well as having strong connections to, and benefits for, the local community.

The National Centre campus will, by design, be both retrospective and forward facing. It will both recognise the disadvantage experienced by vulnerable women and children in the past and represent an active commitment to tackling disadvantage in the present day.

In July 2022, Dublin City Council voted to transfer the identified site at Sean McDermott Street to the OPW. Since then, the OPW has been carrying out maintenance works on the site to make the remaining buildings safe to access and to facilitate future works.

In July 2023 Government approved the masterplan for the National Centre campus and a preliminary business case for the main National Centre buildings (museum and archive).

In March 2024 Government approved further key project documents including the preliminary business case for the full National Centre Campus to comprise, alongside the main museum and archive:

• social housing, configured to universal design standards and appropriate for older persons and persons with disabilities;

• the development of a lifelong learning hub for the provision of further and higher education and;

• facilities for the provision of community-based family and parenting supports.

These elements will make a valuable contribution to the social and economic development of Dublin’s North East Inner City.