Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 12 July 2022

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism

Autism Policy: Discussion

Photo of Joe FlahertyJoe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I am conscious that the Minister of State is probably running out of time. On her visit to Longford, she was probably struck by the location of the CDNT in the old workhouse building. Probably the only meritorious thing we can say about the building is that it was once home to Padraic Colum, the poet, but aside from that, it is a terrible reflection on our commitment to people with disabilities that we are still using that building in a modern age. I have asked the HSE about plans to provide a new CDNT facility. As the Minister of State rightly said, it needs to sit with primary care. There is a plan in place to move it to the Ballyminion site. I am told it is going through the HSE's initial approval process. Once approval is granted, the legal paperwork will be completed and the developer will submit a planning application for the proposed work. I hope the Minister of State can assure me it will be a priority for her to get the work done within the programme for Government.