MATERNITY HOMES OF the past have recently hit the headlines, with an inquiry now underway into mother and baby homes.

A number of state files were recalled from the National Archives by the Department of Health following the revelations about the deaths of almost 800 children at a mother and baby home in Tuam.

The department states that the documents were recalled for the Commission of Investigation that was announced by the Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald.

The documents recently recalled by the department include the registration documents of maternity homes for the years ending 1953, 1952, 1951, 1950, 1948-50, 1946-49, and maternity home exemptions 1946-47.

Under the Maternity Homes Act 1934 every local authority in Ireland had to register the maternity homes in the county with the Department of Health.

Here is the year end returns for all maternity homes in Ireland in 1947:

(Can’t see the list, click here for page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

Read: Department of Health says it will return state files to National Archive>

Read: State files removed from National Archive following mother and baby home revelations>

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