Tusla fears on taking control of homes files

Concern ‘raised at access to records’

- KEN FOXE

TUSLA was reluctant to take responsibility for the Mother and Baby Home Commission archive, internal records have revealed.

The child and family agency expressed concerns it could be blamed for refusing access to records of survivors and adoptees.

Tusla was also worried about the accuracy of records it had not created and how to safely secure the material.

Internal records also flag concerns of a high risk of data protection issues relating to “highly vulnerable” people and inevitable “negative media attention”.

The transfer of the archive has proved deeply controversial for the Government amid concerns the records would be sealed for 30 years.