Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank my colleagues, Deputies Timmins, Doyle and Harris, for raising this issue. I understand people's concern and the necessity to use the Chamber for a very clear statement on the part of the Minister for Health and the Minister of State at the Department and the Minister for Education and Skills. I know St. Catherine's Association as when I was education spokesperson on the other side of the House I worked with it on a number of issues with regard to special educational needs support. I take the point made by Deputy Doyle that this is not just a local concern. It is more important than this because St. Catherine's Association is a fundamental part of the national infrastructure for educational support of children with special needs.

I understand all Deputies in the Wicklow constituency are concerned about the future of the services of St. Catherine's Association in the context of difficulties which have emerged with regard to financial and governance issues, and in particular the fact that St. Catherine's Association has decided that a number of current employees will not have their contracts renewed. It is important to reassure the Deputies and the wider community that the HSE and the Department of Education and Skills are working closely with the service to ensure it will be sustainable for the future.

St. Catherine's Association delivers services to children with intellectual disability and is a valued service provider to people in the area. Services currently provided include multidisciplinary support services to approximately 250 children in St. Catherine's special school and early services including preschool to a number of children on the autistic spectrum. It also provides residential places for 11 children and two adults, and respite services for approximately 75 children.

The HSE provides funding to St. Catherine's Association - which, in 2012, amounted to in the region of €9 million - under a grant as provided for by section 39 of the Health Act 2004. The Department of Education and Skills funds the educational elements of the service separately. In that context, I am assured by the Department of Education and Skills that St. Catherine's Special Needs School remains open to its pupils. The difficulties currently being experienced do not concern the education provided to the pupils. Department of Education and Skills officials have arranged to meet with the school tomorrow morning to discuss the current difficulties and to assist the school.

St. Catherine's has grown significantly over a short timeframe in an unsustainable way. The HSE recognises the value of this service and is anxious to help the organisation to return to sustainability as soon as possible. A financial and governance review is being finalised by the HSE at present and the aim of the close engagement by the HSE is to ensure that this valuable service can continue on a sustainable footing. As part of the resolution of the matter, I understand that St. Catherine's has decided in recent days that it will not be renewing the contracts of a number of staff attached to the educational part of the service. While I understand this may be of concern to parents of children who attend St. Catherine's, it is important to note that it is in everyone's interest that the service be run in a financially sustainable way.

I understand that the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, recently met with all the Deputies for County Wicklow. She emphasised that every effort is being made to assist this organisation and, in particular, the children and parents who rely on its services. The aim of this is to protect services for families in a sustainable way.

See this speech in context