MINISTER FOR Education Batt O’Keeffe has insisted that at the moment he does not have the funds to meet a Government commitment to help finance an all-island centre for excellence dealing with autism close to the Border in Co Armagh.
Mr O’Keeffe and Northern education Minister Caitríona Ruane travelled to the proposed centre in Middletown yesterday to discuss the funding difficulties and other matters.
The meeting, held under the aegis of the North-South Ministerial Council, followed on an exchange of correspondence between the two Ministers in which Mr O’Keeffe explained that his department had to review all educational projects and that it was not currently possible to fund the autism centre. Ms Ruane had stated that she was very disappointed at the decision.
A joint communiqué was issued after yesterday’s meeting stating that the “situation will be kept under active review” by both departments of education. The council also welcomed plans by the departments to jointly run a conference on autistic spectrum disorders in November.
Mr O’Keeffe said he was not going to engage in “megaphone diplomacy” with Ms Ruane over the issue, adding that yesterday’s discussions on the autism centre were confidential. He said he too was disappointed about the hold-up.
“We are as committed to the particular project as everyone else. It is a project that is well worth developing and it is our intention to ensure it goes ahead,” Mr O’Keeffe said. “At the minute there is a pause in funding as I don’t have the necessary multi-million funds available to put it in place this year.”
Mr O’Keeffe said his capital allocation had been cut by €70 million. “I am a realist. You are dealt a hand of cards and I have to play the cards that are given.”
Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin was ruled out of order when he attempted to raise the issue in the Dáil yesterday. He said the best form of protest was for people to reject Fianna Fáil and Green candidates in the elections and to vote for Sinn Féin.
