Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 675: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when a special care centre, Coovagh House, Limerick, will re-open; the cost of refurbishment of the centre; the number of children who will be based there when it re-opens; if there will be any children moved from other centres to Coovagh House; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20320/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Special care units such as this are designed to provide secure and appropriate accommodation for children detained on order of the High Court for their own safety. I am advised by the HSE that it is expected that Coovagh House Special Care Unit will re-open on 10th May 2012. To date expenditure of €660,000 (excluding VAT) has been incurred on the refurbishment of the centre. Coovagh House can accommodate four young people with additional provision for one emergency admission. The HSE has indicated that there are no plans at present to move children from other Special Care units to Coovagh House.