The parents of children with special needs in Monaghan are disappointed and frustrated the HSE has not made contact with them after they found a building which would be ideal to convert into a day centre. Parents who are demanding a children's respite centre, day centre for school leavers and a special school in Monaghan sourced a partially-built property which the HSE could purchase and convert for their purpose.
This day last week, parents organised a meeting which was attended by most local TDs, the current owners of the building, their architects, builders and a special needs service provider. The meeting was largely positive with everyone agreeing the building was perfect for their needs and the meeting ended with assurances from politicians that work would continue behind the scenes to move the issue along with the HSE.
For their part, the HSE said they would be in contact on Monday past to discuss the next stages, however, that has not happened. As another school year comes to a close, some of those who will finish up in secondary school will have nowhere to go come September. Paddy McAloon's son is one of those young adults. He says children and parents cannot accept the slow pace of progress: "When I was involved in the Holy Family School 10 years ago, there were parents there who fought for 20 years," Paddy told Northern Sound, "There was one parent in particular, who fought for that school, who has since died. She never got to se that school. Her son never got to see that school. There are a lot of things we're missing in Monaghan, we need a lot of stuff. If this is going to be the pace it's going to go at we're going to have to look at a different angle because at the minute, those people who are sitting up in Dublin representing me, my kids and the special needs community are totally failing us."
