Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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731. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 324 of 16 July 2014, if he will confirm that the projects referred to in the reply, of four additional beds in Gleann Alainn in County Cork, 12 additional beds in Crannóg Nua, County Dublin and the upgrade and refurbishment works at Ballydowd, County Dublin, will all commence in 2014; if further funding over and above the €1.1 million allocation will be required to complete these projects in the time frame of 2014 to 2016; and when it is expected that the individual projects in each of the three centres will be completed. [33653/14]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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744. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question 319 of 16 July 2014, if he will provide an updated report on the refurbishment works scheduled for Crannóg Nua High Support Unit at Portrane; and if a construction team has now been appointed to carry out the refurbishment works. [34291/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 731 and 744 together.

Special Care involves the detention of a child for his or her own welfare and protection in a Special Care Unit on order of the High Court. Special Care Units differ from ordinary residential care in that the Units offer higher staff ratios, on-site education as well as specialised input such as psychology and child psychiatric services. The child is not detained as a result of criminal offences, but is placed by a High Court Order.

There are three special Care Units in the country which are operated by the Child and Family Agency under a single national governance arrangement. They are Ballydowd in Dublin, Glenn Alainn in Cork and Coovagh House in Limerick. The Agency proposes to increase the number of special care places available and the current position with regard to these proposals is as follows;

- Provision of four additional places in Glenn Alainn, County Cork

The Agency has advised that this project is currently at the Tender Review stage. The appointment of a construction team and commencement of building works will occur following successful conclusion of the Tender Review process. It is anticipated that the Tender Review process will conclude by mid-November 2014.

- Provision of 12 additional places in Crannóg Nua, County Dublin

There are two projects for the provision of the 12 additional places, a new build project for 4 places and a refurbishment project for a further 8 places. The Agency has advised that the new build project (4 places) is at the Tender Review stage. A contractor can be engaged following successful conclusion of the Tender Review process which is anticipated to conclude by mid- November 2014.Refurbishment works at Crannóg Nua will provide a further 8 special care places. The Agency has advised that while the tender for the refurbishment works at Crannóg Nua has not yet issued, these works remain a priority for the Agency.

- Upgrade and refurbishment works at Ballydowd, County Dublin

I am advised by the Agency that this project is currently at the Tender Process stage, with works due to commence in 2014 and conclude in 2015.

As the Agency is currently reviewing the tenders received and the tender for the refurbishment works at Crannóg Nua has not yet issued, the Agency is not in a position to clarify at this time any additional capital funding which may be required to conclude these projects.