The child and family agency, Tusla has said records for the mother-and-baby homes in Tuam, as well Bessborough in Cork, and St Patrick's in Dublin, have been transferred to the agency.
The agency has confirmed it can make these available to the inter-departmental inquiry being established by Minister for Children Charlie Flanagan.
Tusla, the independent child and family agency which is responsible for improving the wellbeing of children, confirmed this afternoon that there are 9 registers from 1921 to 1961, along with quarterly returns from county councils dating back to 1919.
Chief executive of Tusla Gordon Jeyes said they have no problem in making these available to the interdepartmental review group set up by the government. However he stressed the data is private, and is being held in trust on behalf of individuals.
Tusla plans to digitise the registers, but they will remain confidential - and will only be available to the inquiry,and to the individuals concerned.
Earlier the Transport Minister has admitted a statutory inquiry into mortality rates at Mother and Baby Homes may be necessary.
Leo Varadkar says he thinks an interdepartmental review group set up by the government should be allowed to establish the full facts first.
Yesterday the Archbishop of Dublin Diarmud Martin called for all of the homes in the state to be investigated by an independent commission of inquiry with full judicial powers.
Today the Transport minister Leo Varadkar warned against rushing headlong into a statutory inquiry before the full facts have been established
His cabinet colleague Education Minister Rurai Quinn said he would like to see all of the information assembled before a decision on how to proceed is made.
The Bessborough Mother and baby group in Cork also wants a full inquiry - Former residents at the home say the only way of knowing how many babies are buried at the home is by digging up the site:
Sinead Spain reports
