Galway Bay fm newsroom - Daniel McSweeney has been appointed to oversee excavation at former Mother and Baby Home in Tuam.
The appointment of the University of Galway graduate and humanitarian worker follows a recruitment competition run by the Public Appointments Service.
Mr Mac Sweeney will head up the independent Office set up to oversee the sensitive work of ensuring the children’s remains at the Tuam site are recovered and re-interred in a respectful and appropriate way.
A key priority for Mr Mac Sweeney will be to engage with relatives, survivors and former residents of the Tuam institution in relation to the intervention
Work is ongoing to establish core staffing and administrative structures, and to appoint an Advisory Board to support Mr Mac Sweeney in his work.
Children's Minister Roderick O'Gorman has also engaged Sheila Nunan to lead negotiation with religious bodies, on his behalf, in relation to contributions to the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme.