Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 19 Jun 2001

Vol. 538 No. 3

Written Answers. - Autism Services.

John McGuinness

Question:

193 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress in establishing a centre of excellence for autism at Myshall, County Carlow; the number of meetings which have taken place between the South-Eastern Health Board and the Autistic Society; the progress made to understand the requirements at Myshall; if a firm decision has been made by the South-Eastern Health Board in this regard; and the time frame for the delivery of the project. [17689/01]

John McGuinness

Question:

195 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress in establishing a centre of excellence for autism at Myshall, County Carlow; if the transfer of sections of the property has now been finalised; and when the project will go ahead. [17704/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 193 and 195 together.

The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has formally notified the Office of Public Works that it is not its intention to use the property in Myshall. Discussions have taken place between my Department, the South-Eastern Health Board and the Office of Public Works in relation to the future use of the property by the health services and to finalise the arrangements necessary to transfer it to the health services.

I understand from the South-Eastern Health Board that a review of the needs of persons with autism in the region is currently under way. Dis cussions are also taking place between my Department, the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards in relation to the provision of services generally for this population group. While the South-Eastern Health Board has not recently met the Irish Society for Autism about this specific project as part of the discussions at national level, the board has, together with officials from my Department and all of the other health boards, met the society to discuss both the range of services and the type of facilities required to support persons with autism and their families. The specific services which could be based in Myshall will take account of both the information and best practice experiences identified through the discussions at national level and the needs which have been identified within the South-Eastern Region itself. My Department will continue to work with both the Office of Public Works and the South-Eastern Health Board to move this project forward as speedily as possible.