The site of the Tuam Mother and Baby Home is to be excavated.
The government approved the forensic excavation of the Galway site today following the discovery of significant human remains early last year.
This came after allegations that the bodies of 796 babies and children were buried in the septic tank of the Bon Secours home.
Historian Catherine Corless has said the excavation will achieve "closure."
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RTE reports that the excavation will involve the recovery of the juvenile human remains "as far as is possible."
Excavators will use systemic on-site ground truthing to locate exact burial sites and identify the remains where possible.
The remains will then be reburied and memorialised in an appropriate manner.
The remains of the infants were discovered in Tuam last March following extensive research by Corless.
She originally published her findings in 2014 stating that hundreds of babies and toddlers were buried at the site.
Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Katherine Zappone said that today's decision will give answers to families and former residents of the Bon Secours home.
"I am committed to ensuring that all the children interred at this site can have a dignified and respectful burial," she said.
The news was also welcomed by the Tuam Babies group who called the decision "exceptionally important."
They said:
"We want all of the children found, if they are not in the grave, where are they? All of the children must be found and we would like to see a full excavation of the entire site as we believe there are many graves in the area, not just at the site we have all come to know.
"The lost children of Ireland deserve truth and recognition and dignity in their shameful deaths, which was no fault of their own."
