Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

On 22 November, parents of more than 180 children who attend the child and family centre in Bantry received a letter informing them of the decision to move the entire children's disability services out of the child and family centre and into a section of the Bantry adult day care centre.

This decision was taken without any consultation with parents. The purpose-built child and family centre in Bantry opened in 2011. The entire cost of €1.3 million was funded by the local community.

The parents strongly oppose this move on the basis that the purpose-built centre is a stand-alone building which affords dignity, respect and privacy for the children and their families. Over 180 children are being discommoded to facilitate the temporary relocation of a small number of adults when CoAction has had two vacant residential houses in Castletownbere for over a year now. The children are familiar with the centre and the move to the new building will be traumatic for them. I have communicated with CoAction about this negative move. We need the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Rabbitte, to work with our public representatives and the parents to get CoAction to reverse this decision.

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