Still no opening date for Crinkill house for disabled

A BUILDING in Whiteford, Crinkill, Birr which was designed to care for disabled people has been vacant for the last 12 years, and there's still no sign of it being made operational, according to a local councillor.
Cllr John Carroll pointed out that a voluntary group and the HSE came together 12 years ago and acquired the bungalow, which subsequently has never been used for its intended purpose.
"It's scandalous that it's been empty this long," he remarked. "Everybody is fed up with the situation."
He said the Whiteford bungalow was refurbished two years ago and there are people who wish to move into it. "It's now a state of the art building but there's been no directive yet that people can move into it."
He said the house would be able to accommodate one carer and three people who are "not capable of independent living."
He said he read recently of a proposed sensory garden (which will cost €20,000) for the premises, but this is putting the cart before the horse. "We need to get residents and a carer into the facility first," he remarked, "and then look at creating a sensory garden. A few months ago I asked for clarification from the HSE as to when we could expect to see this house staffed and open to serve the needs of those for which it was purchased 12 years ago. After the major refurbishment investment two years ago we hoped it would be commissioned immediately for those individuals who have had signals that it would be their future home, adequate for their special needs, but there is still no opening date."
Cllr Carroll called on either Deputy Barry Cowen, or Minister Anne Rabbitte, or the HSE to give the families on the waiting list a timeline for opening the premises.