The Minister for Children has said that work is already underway to allow for the excavation of the Tuam Mother and Baby Home.

The Government announced yesterday that the County Galway site is to be fully excavated and forensically examined – in an attempt to identify all the children buried there.

The State inquiry into mother and baby homes last year confirmed that 'significant quantities' of human remains had been found on the Bon Secours site which operated between 1925 and 1961.

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone said a Government team made up of experts from different Government Departments has been assembled to draft legislation allowing for the excavation.

“What we want the legislation to do is to undertake an exhumation in a way that has never happened before in this country,” she said.

“It is possible that it could provide a template if we require it in other sites too.”

The grounds where the unmarked mass grave containing the remains of nearly 800 infants who died at the Bon Secours mother-and-baby home in Tuam Co Galway from 1925-1961 is located. Image: RollingNews.ie

She said the Government will have to establish a new DNA database to identify the remains - with a team of experts likely to be brought in from outside the country.

“We will need forensic archaeologists,” she said.

“We need people to go in there [...] working with what they find; being careful with the remains in order to exhume them appropriately.

“We will also need DNA specialists and they may come from outside of the country.”

She said she has spoken to a number of survivors who are all willing to come forward provide their genetic material to the forensic team as it will be needed to “identify any relative who may be buried there.”

It is estimated the cost of the excavation could run anywhere between €6m and €13m.

Once the excavation is complete, the Government will arrange the burial or memorialisation of all the remains found on the site.

You can listen back to the full conversation with Minister Zappone here: