asked the Minister for Health if he will provide financial assistance towards the cost of building a centre for autistic children in Galway city in order to enable this building to be completed and brought into service in 1983.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Galway Centre for Autistic Children.
17.
I have just recently received revised proposals from the western branch of the Irish Society for Autistic Children concerning the provision of a unit for autistic children at Laurel Park, Galway. My Department will be examining the proposal in consultation with the Western Health Board. When the proposal has been examined I will consider the possibility of assisting it from the limited capital funds at my disposal.
Is it true that the plans to provide the centre for autistic children were discussed with the then Minister for Health, Deputy Eileen Desmond, many months ago and that the plans are well known in the Department? Is the Minister aware that building has recently commenced and that, unless the Department are prepared to come forward with a capital allocation towards the cost of building the centre, work may have to cease? The revised plans to which the Minister has referred have brought about a reduction of nearly 50 per cent on the original estimated cost. The society have done all that could possibly be expected of them and I would ask the Minister for a more positive response.
I would be anxious to give a definite reply. We are looking at the revised proposals and, in conjunction with the Western Health Board, we will see what can be done. Until we have examined the proposals and finalised them I cannot say what funds may be made available.
What aspect of the plans does the Minister feel needs to be revised or reviewed by the Department?
The plans have only recently come to my Department. They are under examination and will be discussed shortly with the Western Health Board. When that is done I will be in a position to say what funds will be made available.
I have some difficulty as to what aspect of the plans could possibly need deep consideration by the Department. Would the Minister care to give the House information as to the estimated cost of this centre?
The Deputy will be aware that when plans come to any Department they have to be considered at various levels. We must have a discussion with the health board and we will then be able to say whether, given the limited capital funds available, we can make an allocation.
I have been long enough in this House to know the standard practice adopted by Ministers is to kick things to touch.
I suppose the Deputy would be a good man at that.
In this case I am not prepared to take the matter as lightly as the Minister suggests and have it put on the long finger. What is the estimated cost of providing this centre for autistic children? It is very small.
The cost at 1981 prices would be in the region of £200,000 and running costs would be about £50,000 per annum.
We cannot have a debate on this matter.
I do not mind being thrown out on this issue if that is the latest way to bring something to the notice of a Minister. Is the Minister aware that building has already started?
I indicated that the matter is being dealt with by the Department. It is not being put on the long finger. If Deputy Molloy is in the habit of putting things on the long finger, that is his affair.
That is a very ungenerous response by the Minister to an urgent matter.
I accept the urgency.
Is the Minister aware that building has started?
No, I am not so aware.
The Minister has not studied the brief on this matter. He is giving the House a lot of gobbledygook.
We cannot have argument.
I have indicated that the proposals are being examined in my Department and when these examinations are completed we will consider the allocation.
That is standard waffle.
The Deputy would be a good judge of that.
I am here long enough to know all about it. Will the Minister accept that construction has already commenced? Deputy Fintan Coogan and I were present some weeks ago when the foundation stone was laid and construction has nearly reached roof stage. Work will have to cease unless the Department come forward with a grant, which need not be huge. The society would be very happy to receive an amount of about £50,000 towards the cost of the project. That would ensure its completion and we would borrow the rest.
If people want to proceed with the building without the authority of the Department that is their own affair. The Department will have to examine the proposal and we will not put it on the long finger. I am concerned that something should be done but I cannot give an assurance as to what funds will be available until I receive a report.
That is very unsatisfactory.
The Deputy is being unreasonable.
The Minister is taking the matter very lightly.
The Deputy can raise it in another way. I am not allowing any more supplementaries.
I might be forced to do that in a minute. Is the Minister aware that the Western Health Board have approved the plans for this building and have already contributed the sum of £10,000, small though it may be, towards the cost of its construction? The health board are satisfied with the plans. What can the Minister want changed?
It is disorderly to persist in a debate on this matter.
If the Minister can give me some assurances I will sit down.
I did not indicate that there had to be a change. I indicated that the proposals would have to be examined, as is the case with any proposals. I will not put it on the long finger. It will be dealt with quickly. If Deputy Molloy is not satisfied he has other ways of raising the matter.
Could I ask the Minister——
You are being quite unreasonable. I am surprised at you because you are usually reasonable.
Does the Minister not accept the capacity of the Western Health Board to examine the plans and approve them in order to meet an urgent need in the area? Why should there be a second bureaucratic layer at extra expense to the taxpayer in relation to plans for this centre which will cost less than £200,000? This type of unnecessary expense is crippling this country.
The Deputy cannot use this question to raise the whole policy of departmental approval.
It might be the only way to bring it to attention.
I do not know what Deputy Molloy is looking for.
I am looking for money to ensure that this building will be completed.
Until I have a full report I am not in a position to make a commitment on the sum of money. I indicated to the Deputy on a number of occasions that we would have this done as quickly as possible.
The Deputy's Department have known about this since Deputy Eileen Desmond was in office.
I said we would have this done as quickly as possible, given the availability of capital.
Will the Minister agree that proposals for the construction of a centre have been with his Department for two years?
This is a revised plan.
The remaining questions will appear on Tuesday's Order Paper.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the question of vaccine-damaged children in the light of the Minister's response.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.