Publication
National Centre - Background and scope
From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Published on
Last updated on
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 and County Home Institutions, Reformatories, and related institutions.
The National Centre for Research and Remembrance will stand as part of our national institutions and will comprise:
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.
Looking to the future, Government has also given approval for social housing units, further and higher educational facilities, and family and parenting supports at the site, which will make a valuable contribution to the social and economic development of Dublin’s North East Inner City.
When considering the regeneration of the North East Inner City, Government is committed to ensuring that the National Centre campus complements the proposed redevelopment of the nearby former Rutland Street School, which will encompass a crèche, community gardens, local radio station, enterprise incubator units and a café / community hall.
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. You can find out more on the Steering Group – members and work streams.
Details on the space allocated to each element of the National Centre, and information on how survivors and former residents of the relevant institutions, as well as other stakeholders, will be consulted throughout the process is available on the Current status, plans and consultation.