The Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation has said a test excavation will take place at the site of the children’s burial ground/memorial garden in Tuam, Co Galway.

The commission said the purpose of the excavation was to resolve a number of queries that it has in relation to the interment of human remains at the location.

A sample of the site will be excavated by a team of specialist archaeologists through test trenches, starting tomorrow.

The works are taking place in cooperation with the Gardaí.

Local historian and genealogist Catherine Corless said it was welcome news.

She said: “It’s good news for survivors, that at least the Commission of Inquiry is beginning to give them some answers.

“The scan of the area was done nearly a year ago and we hadn’t heard anything since about whether they were going to do further investigations, or not.”