Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 153: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if it is the case that he will not provide the funding promised and required to expand the All Ireland Centre for Autism, Middletown, County Armagh; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18414/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that I have been anxious to develop this centre to provide for the promotion of excellence in the development and harmonisation of education and associated services for children and young people with autistic spectrum disorders. A great deal has been achieved in collaboration with the Department of Education of Northern Ireland. The centre is delivering training programmes and commissioning research.

The current economic climate has necessitated a thorough review of all educational projects and programmes requiring expenditure. Given the competing demands within the education sector and the overall demands on Government finances, it has not been possible to provide additional funding to fully develop all projects that are under way. The outcome of this process means that, unfortunately, my Department is not in a position to provide the funding required to expand the Middletown Centre as it intended this year, or to enable the capital project to proceed as planned. I assure the Deputy that this decision does not mean that funding is been withdrawn from Middletown. It will continue to be enabled to provide services and to develop some additional services.

My Department is anxious to ensure the continuation of ongoing training and research programmes. Officials in my Department will contact their counterparts in the Department of Education of Northern Ireland to work through associated details which may result from this decision. The Department will keep the expansion of the Middletown Centre under review in the context of improved financial circumstances.