The Dunne report on the retention of organs by hospitals runs to 54 boxes and will take considerable time to examine in detail, the Department of Health said yesterday.
It yesterday declined to give any indication of the findings of the report but said it was the intention of Minister for Health Mary Harney to publish the document, subject to legal advice.
It is understood the substantive report comprises three boxes of material, while there are 51 boxes of appendices and accompanying documentation.
As expected, the main focus of the report is on the country's three main paediatric hospitals, all of which are in Dublin: Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin; the Children's University Hospital, Temple Street; and the National Children's Hospital in Tallaght.
Informed sources said the report would have to be examined to determine if reference was made to any other hospitals in the State.
The Dunne inquiry was originally mandated to examine postmortem practices in all public hospitals, as well as any links with the pharmaceutical industry, in relation to the retention of organs without the consent of families.
The Government decided last autumn that the inquiry should conclude at the end of March, and the Department of Health subsequently rejected an application by the inquiry for a time extension to next year and additional resources to allow it to complete its full mandate.
The department is to send the report to the Attorney General's office on Monday for its consideration.
Sources said the report and the accompanying documentation were "littered with names" and that careful consideration would have to be given to how to deal with this issue.
It is understood that some families affected by the controversy have approached the former chairwoman of the inquiry, senior counsel Anne Dunne, for a meeting on her findings next week.
The Minister said yesterday that if possible she would bring the report to Cabinet the week after next.
The department said in its statement yesterday that Ms Harney would also meet the group representing families affected by the controversy, Parents for Justice, "before any further public actions occur".
"It would be inappropriate to make any public statement regarding the report or its findings until such time as the above procedures have been followed", the statement added.
