Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for the response. This has led to a very frustrating situation in Carlow and there are many more questions left unanswered.

While the Minister of State outlined the background, there is no new information in that regard. The good news is that a new house potentially will be built. However, three years ago a local developer proposed to provide money to build a facility and was not allowed to do so. He provided a site for free and provided expertise. He applied for planning permission, but was not allowed to do so. We have wasted three years at this stage.

Enable Ireland won the tender to provide the service, but now it has no service to provide. It has no facility to allow it to carry out the work required. Enable Ireland won the tender to provide respite services for children who badly need them. The children and their families require this service and it is essential that it exists. Enable Ireland is out there to provide this service that does not exist. Will it be paid for this service that will not exist? That is a big question that has to be answered. What facilities will be available for them?

Two years is a long time. In this whole sorry saga, things keep changing time and time again. We need definite answers as to why this has come to pass at this stage. Why were the legal issues over ownership of the house not sorted out initially rather than carrying out the tendering process, appointing Enable Ireland and, most unfortunately, telling the parents of these children that the service would be available in July 2017 when it was never going to be there? Those are the big questions that need to be answered.

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