West Cork autism centre plans could be delayed by seven years due to water issue

A proposed autism centre for Dunmanway could be delayed by up to seven years due to a hold-up in upgrading the wastewater treatment plant in the town, with local county councillors expressing their frustration at the situation.

The facility aims to be the first residential facility for adults with autism in West Cork.

However the project is facing delays due to necessary improvements to the wastewater treatment plant required to be undertaken by Uisce Éireann.

Fianna Fáil councillor Deirdre Kelly told The Echo she will be writing to health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill for an update regarding the ringfenced funds of €9m for the autism centre.

She said a long delay could see the centre built elsewhere.

“Nine million is a lot of money. You cannot expect that kind of money to be ringfenced for five to seven years more, when this centre would probably be built somewhere else in the meantime. The autism centre is vital for all of West Cork, not just Dunmanway. Most parents needing services for their children have to go to the city,” Ms Kelly said.

“We have met with Uisce Éireann on a number of occasions now and they keep saying it is going to take five to seven years years before Dunmanway will get a wastewater treatment plant.”

Ms Kelly said she will be corresponding with Uisce Éireann to see if they will consider interim measures proposed by the council.

“Cork County Council has given Uisce Éireann proposals that would facilitate an interim relief, which would allow development to go ahead while we are waiting for this five- to seven-year project to be completed.

“On three separate occasions they (Uisce Éireann) said they would investigate it and come back into the next meeting. But they have not done anything about it. So that is hugely frustrating.”

Independent West Cork Councillor Finbarr Harrington told The Echo that the autism centre would be crucial to both Dunmanway and the wider West Cork region.

“I would be hoping number one that Dunmanway doesn’t lose the opportunity to get the centre and that there is some solution found,” Mr Harrington said. “When something like a wastewater treatment plant is holding up a vital service such as an autism centre, it is just beyond belief.”

“Anyone who has kids with autism will tell you how important the services are. Having a service like this would be vital to the people of West Cork. The mere fact we are told the autism centre is being held up because of lack of wastewater, it is unbelievable really.”

Independent Councillor Daniel Sexton also expressed his annoyance to The Echo regarding the delays in building the autism centre.

The Echo has contacted Uisce Éireann for comment.