Cork City Council is to debate a motion calling on the Government to release burial records from the Bessborough Mother and Baby institution, held within the archive of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes.
The motion also calls for the Government to direct the Attorney General to open inquests into the deaths there “as a matter of moral urgency”.
Bessborough Mother and Baby institution operated from 1922 until 1999 under the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
The Commission of Investigation estimated that 923 babies died at Bessborough during the 76 years it was operating.
It found that the burial location of just 64 babies could be conclusively identified and the burial records for 859 children and 19 women were missing.
The commission found that it was “highly likely” that some of those babies have been buried in unmarked graves on the grounds of the Bessborough estate.
In July, permission was granted by An Coimisiún Pleanála for the development of 106 apartments at a site on the the Bessborough estate, despite years of objections from campaigners and survivors.
Carmel Cantwell is spokesperson for Bessborough Mother and Baby Home Support Group. Her brother, William, died six weeks after he was born at Bessborough.
The support group is opposed to development of the lands there.
Instead, the group wants the Government to acquire the lands at Bessborough, so that the remaining, undeveloped parts of the estate can be turned into a memorial for the 923 babies who died there.
“If you build here, within a decade or so, the whole history of Bessborough will be forgotten,” Ms Cantwell said.
She added: “We have nowhere to visit for my brother. This is where my mother comes to remember her baby. This is why it should be preserved – for her and the other mothers and everybody else that come here.
“Once the building is done, it won’t be a place where people will visit. At the moment, lots of people come back to visit the place they were born; the place they last held their baby. This is a place of huge significance to the families.”
Cork City Council will debate a motion this evening calling on the Government to release unpublished technical archaeological reports concerning burials at Bessborough, held by the commission.
The motion also calls for the release of all burial records held within the Commission of Investigation archive.
Finally, it calls on the Government to direct the Attorney General to open an inquest into the deaths at Bessborough “as a matter of moral urgency”.
The motion was proposed by Labour Party Councillor Peter Horgan.
“I’m doing this to keep pressure on the Government, to keep pressure and attention on Bessborough.
“We have the mediation under way with the developers and Cork City Council since the planning permission was given and that’s important, it’s welcome,” Cllr Horgan said.
He added: “We do need to get to the nub of the truth of what happened in Bessborough, and that’s important for closure and solace of survivors and for families of people who went through Besborough over the years.”
At the request of Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Cork City Council has engaged a mediator to conduct negotiations between the council and the developers who own land at Bessborough.
The Government has indicated that the State would support moves by the council to purchase that land.