Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

As Deputy Ó Caoláin rightly said, he raised this matter already today. I will read the informed and official response but, equally, I will have someone find out exactly how we can progress the issue as speedily as possible.

In the first instance I wish to inform the House that the matters raised in relation to the commissioning and commencement of the group home in Carrickmacross fall under the statutory remit of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and the housing authorities. I have been informed that in April 2013 the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and the housing authorities approved capital assistance scheme funding of €900,000 for the provision of a group home for people with physical and sensory disabilities at Drummond Otra, Convent Lands, Carrickmacross. I understand from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government that, following receipt of a tender report showing a 50% increase in the cost of the project, it requested a value-for-money appraisal of the project. That is to be expected. Anyone of us seeing such an increase would baulk at it. As a result of this appraisal, a revised design was subsequently developed by the approved housing body and Monaghan County Council. In addition, it was necessary for Monaghan County Council, in advance of committing significant amounts of Exchequer funding to the scheme, to engage with the HSE and HIQA in relation to design issues, ensuring that the units will be fully occupied once completed and that the ongoing services required to meet the needs of the individuals using the facility are in place before going forward. We must ensure that as people age the group home is still sufficient for their requirements. I have been informed that these steps are now being finalised by Monaghan County Council and that a decision on funding will be provided by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to Monaghan County Council shortly.

As part of a joined up interagency approach to delivering housing to people with a disability I am informed that the HSE disability services manager for Cavan and Monaghan will continue to work closely with officials from Monaghan County Council and Respond Housing Association in progressing proposals for the development of this facility. I hope we are at a point where, with a little bit of a push, we can bring the project over the line as quickly as possible. I agree that it has taken far too long.

See this speech in context