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Minister Kathleen Lynch TD, Minister for Disability, Equality, Mental Health & Older People, has opened a state of the art centre for children with disabilities and their families in Cavan.
Known as 'Hillside', the facility was developed byEnable Ireland in partnership with the HSE.
Children with disabilities and their families will benefit greatly from the integrated approach to Children’s Services embodied in this facility. Based at the new centre, the Enable Ireland Early Services Team provides services for children from 0-6 years, and the HSE Child Development Team provides services for children 6-18 years. As a result of this partnership, the building is a one-stop shop for children and families where assessment and intervention can take place. Paediatric clinics are also held here at ‘Hillside’ which means that families have access to their medical appointments here rather than having to attend the hospital out-patient department.
Minister Lynch said: "Partnership between the HSE and Enable Ireland has facilitated the development of a one-stop shop for children with disabilities and their families in the north east. This is an excellent example of how services can be developed or reoriented to deliver a better and more integrated service. It is very much in line with the HSE’s programme to progress disability services for children and young people, which is currently being rolled out nationally."
This state of the art building already provides a range of services and supports to in excess of 500 children with disabilities and their families in the Cavan area.
Other facilities include therapy rooms, a sensory room, an IT room, and meeting and training rooms. A range of therapy groups are held in the centre and specialised equipment and resources are also available. The centre also has a playground which is available for therapeutic purposes
The building was made possible by a contribution of €1.25m from Dormant Accounts which was matched by a contribution from Enable Ireland Retail & Fundraising of €1.25m. The HSE contributed towards the cost of the purchase of the site.
(CD)
