The Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention Tuam (ODAIT), which is undertaking the work, issued an update on its work on Friday.

Families and survivors of a notorious former mother and baby home in the west of Ireland are to visit the site ahead of its major excavation.

Personnel from Colombia, Spain, the UK, Canada, and the US have joined the team in excavating the mass grave at the site in Tuam, Co Galway.

Research indicates that almost 800 babies were buried in a sewerage system at the St Mary’s home in Tuam, Co Galway between 1925 and 1961.