Ireland’s National Centre consultation is helping shape a major project focused on research, remembrance, survivor participation and public education. The Department of Children, Disability and Equality says engagement with survivors, affected people, families, advocates and the local community will remain central to the Centre’s development.
National Centre consultation puts lived experience at the heart of planning
An initial public consultation ran from July to September 2023 and received almost 220 responses. An independent research company analysed the submissions, with the findings informing commitments by the National Centre Steering Group.
The strongest message was that survivors and affected people want meaningful involvement in decision-making at every stage of the project, including after the Centre opens. Other priorities included:
- Inclusive and equal memorialisation
- A professional, authentic museum experience
- Truth, healing and support
- Careful treatment of sensitive records
- A calm and reflective garden space
The consultation process reflects a wider public-sector approach to policy development, where departments and agencies use structured engagement to improve services and accountability. Information about the project is published through gov.ie by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality.
Survivor engagement informs museum, archives and governance
In-person engagement events were held in Dublin, Galway, Cork, London and online between October 2024 and February 2025. Participants heard about plans for the site, development of an archival repository, and examples of survivor-led exhibition and memorial spaces.
Feedback was collected during the events and through follow-up communications. The Special Advocate’s Office organised the feedback into seven themes, which were reviewed by the Steering Group. A key outcome was the appointment of survivor members to the Steering Group, giving them full membership alongside representatives from Government departments and public bodies.
Further commitments include survivor panels for the National Museum of Ireland, a stronger survivor role in future governance, and processes allowing people to share lived experiences or physical items if they choose. Work is also planned to collect personal statements, preserve records and expand access through digitisation, local museums, libraries and travelling exhibitions.
National Museum of Ireland expert panel
The National Museum of Ireland has invited survivors and affected individuals to join its Lived Experience Expert Panel. The panel will contribute to the development of the museum element of the National Centre. Interested applicants can contact museum staff at ncrr@museum.ie.
Article/Image Courtesy: gov.ie
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Community engagement continues in Dublin’s North-East Inner City
Dublin City Council held a community information day in July 2024 at the Seán MacDermott Street site, followed by another open day in July 2025. The events provided information on plans for the campus, including further and higher education provision and community-based family and parenting supports.
A briefing was also provided to the North East Inner City Initiative’s Project Implementation Board and subgroups in March 2025. Further engagement is expected as the project develops, helping residents understand proposed services and opportunities connected with the site.
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What happens next?
The Steering Group’s commitments provide a framework for the next phase of work. Priorities include survivor-led governance, archival preservation, museum development, community participation and digital access for people unable to visit the Centre in person.
The key takeaway: the National Centre consultation has established that survivor participation is not a one-off exercise. It is intended to remain a permanent part of how Ireland’s research, remembrance and memorialisation project is designed and delivered.