Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this issue. I ask the Minister to give an early indication of the provision of deficit funding to provide for the replacement of the Orchard Centre, Gort, County Galway. This centre was established approximately 20 years ago. At the time of the disastrous fire, there were 50 people placed there. Of these, 30 were residential patients while the remainder were day care patients.

I wish to thank the Brothers of Charity for the tremendous work they have done at this centre over the years. It is difficult not to underestimate the value of the centre to the many adults with special needs in the area who did not have any service in the past. The centre serves a catchment area from Kinvara to Loughrea – this includes Gort town and the wider area – and the loss of such a service in this tragic way is a severe blow to the many people who avail of it and also to the staff who have worked in the centre for so long and given such commitment to it.