Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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319. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 626 of 1 July 2014, if he will provide an exact timeline of when it is expected that the Crannóg Nua high support unit will be fully refurbished and converted into a special care unit. [31849/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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As part of the Child and Family Agency's commitment to develop a comprehensive continuum of care services to meet the divergent and complex needs of all children in care, Crannóg Nua High Support Unit in Portrane is to be redesignated to function as a Special Care Unit. I am advised that the last child left Crannog Nua on 23rd June 2014. There are approximately 14 days remaining in the tendering process for the appointment of a construction team who will provide the upgrade of the current buildings and an additional new build residential unit, to enable the Centre to provide secure care. The Agency has advised me that in excess of €1m has been allocated to progress national special care development projects for 2014 and discussions are underway regarding further significant amounts required in 2015 and future years.

The Agency has advised that eight special care beds will be provided at Crannóg Nua by the end of June 2015 and a further four beds will be provided there by the end of October 2015. These timescales refer to the current indicated Building Programme and may be subject to change.