Shane Curley (Fianna Fail)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Hildegarde Naughton, as teacht isteach.

Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit chuig an Teach. Before I outline my case, I thank the Minister of State for taking time out of her very busy schedule recently to visit County Monaghan and the Errigal Truagh Special Needs Parents and Friends CLG. We look forward to that project and many others in the region progressing.

I raise once again the issue of the much-needed replacement facility for day services at Clogher House in Cavan. Last year the area's disability services, supported by HSE estates' north east department, completed a comprehensive submission for capital funding for a new day service premises to replace the premises based in Rathcorrick. With the best will in the world, the premises there, unfortunately, leaves a lot to be desired. That in no way diminishes the quality of service that those attending receive from the staff there. The submission in question was supported by the development of a new day activation unit in County Cavan and I was very happy last year when €4.6 million was allocated to progress the project. I understand there is a process to go through. A greenfield site, in line with national policy standards, was identified and deemed suitable in Cavan town, to provide services for a new day-activation unit and a lease option was explored.The property review group advised that the submission was classed as a works contract and, therefore, would need to be advertised in line with public procurement guidelines and eTenders. An initial timeline was set out for the eTenders process and signed off from HSE property, with detailed design, planning permission and, finally, construction, commissioning and equipping. In November of last year, stage 1 of the procurement process to identify a suitable provider to deliver a facility for the HSE in Cavan town was concluded and stage 2 of the procurement process had commenced. I understand that the HSE has invested in a number of initiatives at the existing premises, and that is very much welcome, but it is clear that a new premises is what is required.

I look forward to the Minister of State outlining this morning where exactly this project is at. Needless to say, everyone would like to see it delivered yesterday because the premises where the service is currently located, as I said earlier, leaves a lot to be desired. Those attending, the service users, and the staff deserve much better. I hope now that we have got to a point where we are ready to progress this. I look forward to the Minister of State's response.

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I thank Senator Gallagher for raising this important issue and giving me the opportunity to respond. Day services are Health Service Executive-funded programmes for people with intellectual disabilities, autism or complex physical disabilities that include a range of centre-based and community-based activities. Access to services is based on an individual's needs rather than on their diagnosis. The focus is on supporting people to participate in mainstream activities and in the life of their community, in line with their wishes and their needs.

Clogher House is a day activation unit premises based in Rathcorrick, Cavan. The HSE advises that a comprehensive submission for capital funding for a new day services premises to replace Clogher House, in line with the national HSE New Directions policy for adult day services, was approved in 2024. HSE disability services and HSE Dublin north-east capital and estates concluded a tender process for a leasehold site in Cavan, which was approved in July 2025. The HSE capital and estates regional office has now issued letters to the successful and unsuccessful tenderers. Once all outstanding issues are addressed, the HSE will look at engaging with the preferred provider on milestones and a programme of delivery.

Government investment has enabled the replacement of much-needed service locations such as Clogher House, Rathcorrick, and within the sector the New Directions policy has guided a major programme of change to reconfigure adult services, based on the core values of person-centredness, community inclusion, active citizenship and high-quality service provision. There are over 20,000 individuals with a disability in receipt of day services, together with a further 2,049 in rehabilitative training services. These services are provided at 1,091 locations around the country by 97 service providers. A total of €3.8 billion has been allocated for specialist disability services in budget 2026. That represents nearly a 20% increase year on year. This includes funding for a new cohort of 1,400 school leavers and in the order of 50 day service places for non-school leavers - for example, people who acquire a disability later in life.

I again thank the Deputy for raising this matter.

Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for her response. I am delighted that a preferred end user has been identified and that the HSE will now progress to finalising matters with that preferred provider. Has the Minister of State any idea of the timelines involved in that or when that process will conclude? Can she give us any idea as to when approximately - I do not expect her to give the exact date - the people can expect this facility to be up and running? It is very much needed and in many instances long overdue.

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I am as anxious as the Senator about this and I know that its progression as quickly as possible is really important in his constituency. The HSE will look at engaging with the preferred provider on the milestones and a programme of delivery. I can come back to the Senator with further detail on that. I am in contact with the HSE. I am just looking for further information about the progress of this really important facility for the Senator's constituency.