Vol. 539 No. 1
265 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will ensure that a place in the Noonan Centre, Cashel, County Tipperary, is allocated to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are only 12 places for children with learning difficulties in the south Tipperary area; his plans to allocate additional places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18858/01]
The South Eastern Health Board has informed me that the Noonan Centre, Cashel, is a child development centre, CDC, with 24 specialised pre-school places run by the Brothers of Charity.
In April 2001, six children transferred to Scoil Aonghusa, a special school for children with moderate learning disabilities. Following discussions with the Brothers of Charity Services, Scoil Aonghusa agreed to establish a school for children with a severe and profound intellectual disabilities. This special class continues to be accommodated in the Noonan Centre while discussions are taking place with the Department of Education and Science on building requirements.
At present 18 children avail of child development services in the Noonan Centre, Cashel, together with the six children in the special class. The Brothers of Charity Services are establishing a child development centre in a temporary location in Clonmel in September 2001, which will initially provide six places. There are plans to develop this service by a further nine places. This will bring the total child development centre places in the South Tipperary area to 30 places.
The Brothers of Charity Services will have 12 vacancies in South Tipperary for children needing child development services for September 2001. At present there are 12 children on the waiting list and places will be offered to those children within the next six weeks.
