Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of the State to the House to discuss the issue of Drumlin House and the need for the expansion of services there. We all know about the importance of support services for people with disabilities and their families. Places like Drumlin House are totally committed to providing training and support for people to meet their needs and be the best that they can be. I would like to pay tribute to Breege O’Reilly, the manager, who the Minister of State met when she kindly visited there upon my request some time ago, and the 35 or 40 staff who also work there and are totally dedicated to the 90 or so service users and trainees who use the services at Drumlin House. I know there are many other facilities located throughout Cavan and Monaghan and we are deeply indebted to all the staff who work at them. I am sure the Minister of State would agree. They are totally committed to the work they do to ensure the people they care for can be the best that they can be in their lives. We are very grateful to them for that.

As the Minister of State knows, we have an ever-increasing population, as borne out by the recent census figures, and with that comes pressure for additional services. We all know that Drumlin House - which, as I said, looks after more than 90 service users - is bursting at the seams. They do fantastic work but more space is badly needed to facilitate more people not just there, but in other locations. However, primarily, we are discussing Drumlin House this afternoon.

I understand that as part of the plan the Minister of State is working on, in addition to hoping to expand the services of Drumlin House, she is looking at the possibility of satellites or hubs in different locations throughout Monaghan and Cavan. That is very welcome as well. I would like the Minister of State to expand on her plans with regard to Drumlin House. I know Drumlin House is close to her heart because she said that to me many times when we discussed the work that goes on there. I would be grateful if she could provide an update on the plans for Drumlin House and the expansion of that facility, as well as for other additional facilities that are so badly needed within counties Cavan and Monaghan.