Newry Armagh Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

MLA welcomes updates on Middletown Centre of Excellence for Autism

Published: 20 January, 2010

Local Sinn Féin Assembly member, Cathal Boylan, has welcomed updates from the Joint First Minister, Martin McGuinness MP, MLA, and Education Minister, Caitriona Ruane, MLA, regarding the Middletown Centre for Autism Excellence, during statements on North South Ministerial Council meetings held recently which they made in Stormont.

Martin McGuinness welcomed the Dublin governments decision to lift the pause on capital funding for the centre and in a response to a question on the viability of the project stated, '...The centre is a vital project. It is more than a political decision; it is a decision to establish what, hopefully, will be a centre of excellence for the education of children with Autism.'

Meanwhile, Caitriona Ruane, Education Minister said;

'The Middletown Centre is a ground breaking initiative that has the potential to greatly improve the lives of children with autism throughout Ireland. Officials are looking at a new development programme for the centre and to make that end will continue to work with their counterparts in the Education and Science Department in Dublin.'

The Minister also provided an update on the costs of the Centre so far. All costs are on a 50; 50 basis with Dublin. It cost £1.5 million to purchase the site and annual running costs will be £3.5 million per annum. The Department of Education's expenditure so far currently stands at approximately £1.88 million, £1.73 million capital and £374,000 project costs.

Commenting, Cathal Boylan said;

'I welcome this update on the Middletown Centre, already the centre provides a training and advisory service for parents, teachers and other professionals and a research and information service. Future plans include an education assessment service and a learning support service.'

'I agree with the Education Minister that critics of the site should realise not everything needs to be based in Belfast or Dublin. Now that the temporary pause on capital funding has been lifted by Dublin I would hope we can quickly move on to see the potential of this facility realised; and that the centre can examine different methods and best practise from places such as the U.S., New Zealand, Australia and Sweden to ensure children from throughout the island who suffer from Autism can be given the best education on the basis of equality and have the opportunity to fulfil their potential in the education system.'