No Site. No Timeline. Monaghan families left waiting on respite services

Update on promised adult day services centre provided in Seanad

Aontú's Senator Sarah O’Reilly has voiced deep frustration after it emerged there is still no confirmed location and no timeline for a promised adult day services centre in Monaghan- despite years of discussion and repeated assurances.

Raising the issue in the Seanad yesterday, February 10, Senator O’Reilly expressed disappointment that the Minister of State responsible was not present to answer directly on a matter squarely within his Department’s remit.

Working closely with Special Needs Active Parents (SNAP) in Monaghan- alongside Olivia Larkin, Paddy McAloon and local families- Sen O’Reilly said parents are exhausted by the uncertainty.

Families of children with special needs, particularly school leavers, she told the upper house, are trying to plan for the future, yet they still do not know whether a new centre will be built, where it will be located, or when doors might open.

Over the years, multiple locations have been floated- from the St. Louis convent site to an old fire station, and most recently at St. Davnet’s campus. A capital submission for St. Davnet’s was approved in 2024, yet fresh confusion has now emerged, with suggestions the campus may be deemed unsuitable because it is considered a hospital setting.

When pressed directly in the chamber, the Minister of State Emer Higgins confirmed the stark reality: that no site has been identified, and no timeline exists either.

“We are looking to replace the existing Monaghan day activation unit, which is based in St. Davnet's campus in Monaghan town. Yes, we are looking at Monaghan town. The information I have from the HSE is that it is engaging locally with the HSE north-east estates department to identify a suitable site, so I do not have information that says a site has been identified," said the minister. "I am being told by the HSE directly that the HSE capital estates office is currently liaising with Cavan-Monaghan disability services and my Department to identify a suitable location in Monaghan town.”

Despite funding being approved at appraisal stage, the HSE she said is still “liaising” to identify a suitable location in the Monaghan Town area. Without a site, there can be no planning process- and without planning, there can be no completion date.

“We are looking to replace the existing Monaghan day activation unit, which is based in St. Davnet's campus in Monaghan town," replied Sen O’Reilly. "Yes, we are looking at Monaghan town. The information I have from the HSE is that it is engaging locally with the HSE north-east estates department to identify a suitable site, so I do not have information that says a site has been identified. I am being told by the HSE directly that the HSE capital estates office is currently liaising with Cavan-Monaghan disability services and my Department to identify a suitable location in Monaghan town."

The Cavan Oirechtas member though acknowledged the excellent work of the existing daily activation unit in Rooskey, but stressed it is no longer sufficient, and a modern facility, she said, is badly needed.

“Families and their loved ones need to plan,” she said. “Continuity and consistency are crucial.”

Minister Higgins replied: “There is no timeline because it is ongoing. As soon as it is identified we will have further information, because once we have an identified site, we will then know from a planning perspective how long things will take. It is really important to say that funding was approved as a capital appraisal project for this, so there is funding earmarked for this project. It is something we are very committed to delivering. We know there is a need there and we want to replace the existing facility, and this is how we do that. We engage with the local service providers to see where there is capacity and suitable premises and then we work with them to turn that suitable premises into a service for the type of people the Senator has identified and spoken about and for the people SNAP is dealing with directly in her area. This is what happens around the country.