14 September 2004

Governments purchase site for autism centre

A joint venture between the British and Irish governments has seen the purchase of a new site for the development of a centre of excellence for autism in Northern Ireland.

The Middletown Centre for Autism, which will be developed at the former St Joseph's Adolescent Centre in Middletown, Co Armagh, will be dedicated to improving and enriching the educational opportunities of children and young people with Autistic Spectrum Disorders.

Speaking at the launch today, which was attended by representatives from across the education and health sectors, Education Minister, Barry Gardiner, along with Noel Dempsey, the Minister for Education and Science in the Republic of Ireland, said: “We are continuously working to improve the opportunities for education for all young people.

"However, working towards getting that right for those with Special Educational Needs is, for me, a high priority and I believe that the Middletown project is just one example of my Department’s focus on this area and is a very real example of our efforts to address such needs in a practical and innovative way.”

Minister Dempsey added: “I see the Middletown Centre – with its dedicated research capability, its training and conference facilities, its collaborative approach involving local service-providers, and its mission to promote excellence – as having a pivotal role in the future delivery of education services for young people with autistic spectrum disorders. I wish the Centre every success.”

The Centre will have a multi-disciplinary approach and work in collaboration with local services, complementing existing provision rather than replacing it.

(MB/GMCG)