The cabinet will be briefed today on the inquiries into conditions at mother-and-baby homes.

The report is likely to form the terms of reference for the Inquiry into the institutions.

A number Departments and state agencies have been working for several weeks to combine all of their data about conditions in mother-and-baby homes nationwide.

That review's now been finished, and Charlie Flanagan will present its findings to cabinet this morning.

The report is expected to form the basis for the terms of reference of the Commission of Investigation being set up to examine conditions in the homes.

That Inquiry was ordered in the wake of the news that the remains of up to 800 children were buried at a mass grave in Tuam.

The minister is also likely to update his colleagues on the outcome of his meetings with advocacy groups for survivors over the last few week – and the 81 public submissions for the inquiry. 

They've asked him to examine conditions in up to 100 different institutions.