Clarity sought on special needs facility

THE HSE has been asked to provide clarity as to when a planned extension will be delivered at a special needs facility in north Monaghan .

Cllr Bronagh McAree (SF) told the July meeting of Monaghan County Council that staff and service users of Errigal Truagh Special Needs deserve certainty in relation to the extension project.

Members backed Cllr McAree’s proposal to request the HSE to set out a clear timeframe and say when capital funding for it will be approved. She also called for a meeting between Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion, Michael Moynihan, the HSE, the facility’s stakeholders and local public representatives to ensure the extension is advanced.

Cllr McAree appealed for cross-party support for the project.

“This is not a political issue, it is one all parties should be behind,” she stated.

CORRESPONDENCE

Correspondence before the meeting from the HSE confirmed the extension has been approved and work is taking place on a submission to move to the “approval gate 1” stage of a strategic assessment and preliminary business case.

The HSE also pointed out that funding of €200,000 has been allocated to Errigal Truagh Special Needs for the provision of alternative Saturday children’s respite services to commence on September 5. The facility has also received €60,703 to support the operation of a Saturday club for 14-17-year-olds from June to September, and €27,666 to deliver a summer camp programme from August 4-7.

Cllr McAree welcomed the funding but said the correspondence didn’t say when the permanent extension will be delivered.

“The hard-working local committee of service users and their families deserve certainty rather than another list of stages,” she stated.

Seconding Cllr McAree’s proposal, Cllr Pauric Clerkin (FG) said he has been exerting political pressure to secure more services for the facility. “There are always promises but we never get a clear timeframe,” he remarked.

Cllr Clerkin praised the “amazing work” carried out by Errigal Truagh Special Needs, which facilitates families from across County Monaghan and some parts of Northern Ireland.