Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for attending here. It is the second time we have had the opportunity to address this matter in this House today. I note in the closing sentence of the opening remark the reference to, "As part of a joined-up interagency approach". I am sure the Minister of State will have had experiences similar to mine in this regard, that the thinking is not always as joined up as it must be. This is a major difficulty. It is not a reflection on the current Government or any previous Government in particular but I have often heard and seen examples of the failure of various Departments to even join up in terms of respective projects. In this case we have a multiple of different agencies and the project has not proceeded as it should.

In terms of the issue in relation to the increased cost of the project, one can understand that an inordinate increase required examination but it is a couple of years even since that point and we have still not reached the get-go to get on with the project. That is what is needed.

While I recognise that the response, like others delivered by the Minister of State, is not of her own hand, nevertheless I take comfort from what she said to me personally in this exchange that she will explore where things are at currently and endeavour to release the logjam to allow this project to proceed. It is absolutely essential that it would happen and it is vital for the cohort of young women who are coping in life with major physical and sensory disabilities that they are appropriately placed. I respectfully ask that the Minister of State would come back to me at the earliest opportunity with whatever report she can share.

See this speech in context