Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 19 Jun 1991

Vol. 409 No. 10

Adjournment Debate. - Cork School for Autistic Children.

Mr. Sherlock

I welcome the opportunity of raising this matter on the Adjournment. It relates to a school which has been made ready, through considerable voluntary efforts, for accepting autistic people. However, the doors of the school remain closed because of a lack of funding from the Southern Health Board and the Department of Health. The Cork Association for Autistic Children was founded in 1978 by the parents and friends of autistic suffers in response to a lack of local specialised care. Since then a great deal has been achieved on behalf of autistic sufferers such as the provision of junior and senior schools. Much credit for this must go to the Cork Association for Autistic Children.

The association's most recent and ambitious development was the renovation, refurbishment and equipping of Greenville House in Carrigtwohill, County Cork, as a residential school for autistic people. This school was officially opened on 25 April 1991 by President Robinson as a home for life for autistic people in the Southern Health Board region. Greenville House is ready to receive its first residents but sadly it remains empty, despite a sum of £220,000 having been spent on renovating it. The bulk of this £220,000 was raised by the local community. To date, neither the Department of Health nor the Southern Health Board have provided any funding for Greenville House. The Cork Association for Autistic Children have been informed that they are to be included in a five year plan for the delivery of services in the Southern Health Board region. However, this plan has not yet been submitted to the Department of Health.

Another alarming development is the proposal by the Southern Health Board to consider Greenville House in the context of the board's plan for services for the mentally handicapped which is currently being completed. This is not good enough from the point of view of the Cork Association for Autistic Children and autistic sufferers. It is contended that the integration of autistic sufferers with the general handicapped would be destructive to both groups. It is a shame that such a fine facility as Greenville House should remain idle after all the efforts made to refurbish and equip it and that autistic sufferers are denied its use. Even though many elsewhere in the region seeking access to the school are in receipt of capitation grants, this school remains closed because of a lack of basic capitation grants.

I appeal to the Minister for Health and, through him, the Southern Health Board to bring this problem which has existed for far too long to an end. This issue should be taken off the long bureaucratic finger and action taken to open this faculity as soon as possible.

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Mr. Flood)

The Cork Association for Autistic Children have developed a residential centre for adolescent and adult autistics in Greenville House, Carrigtwohill, County Cork. I understand that the association have had discussions with the Southern Health Board regarding the operation of this facility.

As Deputies will be aware, the Programme for Economic and Social Progress provides for the phased development of community-based and associated services in the health area. My Department have had discussions with each of the health boards regarding the implementation of the plans for the health services outlined in the programme. Arising from these discussions, health boards are now in the process of preparing detailed strategic plans which will facilitate the phased development of community health services over the next seven years.

I am particularly aware of the significant contribution made by voluntary organisations such as the Cork Association for Autistic Children. I envisage that the health board strategic plans to which I have referred will seek to foster the role of these excellent groups. I understand that the Southern Health Board are considering the provision of support for the Greenville House project as part of the strategic plan which they are drawing up. This plan will be discussed and agreed with my Department when it is presented. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that the Southern Health Board, as the statutory authority, must ensure that the health services in their functional area are delivered in a co-ordinated manner to be considered as part of the board's overall plan for the improvement of community health services in the region.

In relation to services for autistics generally, I should explain to Deputies that the Irish Society for Autistic Children receive considerable financial support from my Department and health boards towards the running costs of their services. My Department are also providing the necessary capital resources to enable new residential and workshop facilities for adolescent and adult autistics to be provided at St. Vincent's Hospital, Fairview, which will come on stream next year. The Irish Society for Autistic Children have been involved with the Eastern Health Board in the planning of this project. The provision of this level of support is a clear indication of our commitment to supporting development services for autistics. When my Department receive this report from the Southern Health Board, which should also include reference to Greenville House, it will be dealt with as speedily as possible.