The government is to allow for the excavation of a mass grave at a former Mother and Babies home in Galway.
Remains of almost 800 infants and children were discovered at the former Bon Secours home in 2017.
The cabinet is expected to give permission to establish an office to manage the excavation of the burial site.
The office will have responsibility for forensic excavation, recovery and analysis, and will also make appropriate final arrangements for the remains.
Local historian Catherine Corless began her campaign to highlight the burial site in 2013.
She says relatives of the deceased are anxious for the excavation to start:
"You can imagine yourself the heartache of knowing that part of your family is lying in a sewage facility, it's been like that for so long and it was so wrong, and they have appreciated what I have done for them. They've shown that and I suppose with a little bit of trepidation still to wonder how will this go? Will they do it thoroughly? Will they do it properly?"
