Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 25 May 2000

Vol. 519 No. 7

Written Answers. - Departmental Properties.

Liam Aylward

Question:

83 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Health and Children if he is in communication with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform with regard to the purchase of property (details supplied) in County Carlow in which the Autism Society of Ireland has an interest; the progress being made in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14785/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

I understand from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform that the property referred to by the Deputy was offered to the Office of Public Works in January following an advertisement by that office in the national newspapers for suitable properties for the purpose of accommodating asylum seekers. I am informed that the Irish Society for Autism did not contact the Office of Public Works regarding its interest in this property.

Decisions in relation to the allocation of funding for new developments in services to persons with disabilities, including those with autism, are a matter for individual health boards and are taken in line with the priorities which have been identified for each region through the established planning and consultative structures. This applies to both revenue and capital funding for new service developments. All of the capital funding available to my Department to support the development of services to persons with autism and those with an intellectual disability in 2000 has been notified to the health boards and the Eastern Regional Health Authority.

In the case of the property referred to by the Deputy, the relevant health board would be the South Eastern Health Board. While it is understood that the society may have been interested in this property since early this year, no approach was made by the society to the South Eastern Health Board concerning a proposed development for persons with autism. I understand from the board that it is its policy that any development such as that proposed by the society will not attract funding unless a specific business case is prepared, considered by the regional co-ordinating committee and approved by the regional director of disability services. As no representations were made by the Irish Society for Autism to the board, its proposals relating to this particular property are not included in the board's service plans for 2000. However, I have referred the request from the society for funding, which I received in early May, to the board to ascertain whether any assistance could be made available to the society in this matter and I understand that the board has written to the society, requesting that a meeting be arranged with the regional director of disability services to discuss the proposed development.

While any decision regarding the purpose for which this property may be used is not a matter for this Department, I will inform my colleagues, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Minister of State at the Office of Public Works of the outcome of the South Eastern Health Board's discussions with the Irish Society for Autism.