Vol. 534 No. 5
185 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has notified the Office of Public Works of his intention in relation to the property purchased recently at Myshall, County Carlow; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this decision must be made before discussions can be finalised with the health services regarding the use of the property as a centre of excellence for autism. [11192/01]
Following the purchase of Myshall Retreat Centre, County Carlow, by the Office of Public Works for use as an accommodation centre for asylum seekers, representations were made by the South Eastern Health Board and the Autistic Society of Ireland seeking to have the property made available for use as a residential service for children with disabilities who require specialist care. Both organisations indicated that there is a shortage of such facilities in this country and that the property would be suitable for accommodating such a service subject to refurbishment and other modifications being undertaken.
While the reception and integration agency, which is responsible, inter alia, for meeting the accommodation needs of asylum seekers, continues to operate against the backdrop of a severe shortage of accommodation, it is not my intention that such accommodation should be sourced to the detriment of vulnerable groups such as children with disabilities. In these circumstances, I directed that the Office of Public Works be informed that I had no objections to the property being made available to the South Eastern Health Board for use as a centre for these children.
