Newry & Armagh Sinn Féin MLA Megan Fearon has raised the issue of the need to progress the Day Care Centre in Crossmaglen with the Department of Health.
Making her feelings known in a written submission to the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health, the local MLA said she had expressed her disappointment at the lack of action on the project so far and stated clearly that she and her colleagues will continue to push for the delivery of a Day Care Centre in Crossmaglen.
“The Southern Health & Social Care Trust are holding a review into Disability Day Care Services. The Crossmaglen Day Care Centre is a project which has been in the pipeline for almost 15 years – indeed it was approximately 15 years ago the project was first given approval, at the same time as the Newry Day Care Centre, which has now been built for almost 10 years,” explained the Sinn Féin elected representative, who added that the same positive results have not been seen with the Crossmaglen project.
“Crossmaglen is a rural town that has suffered a severe lack of investment, which unfortunately has led to high levels of poverty and deprivation. The most recent multiple deprivation figures show six wards in South Armagh rank high in all measures and highest within the Newry, Mourne and Down LGD.
“The lack of investment is quite visible in the inadequate infrastructure. Indeed, there are high levels of disability within the local area and as the situation continues local people who require Day Care are transported on bad roads to Newry; many of those are ageing, this travelling has adversely affected their health and those of their families and carers.”
The MLA said her letter to the Health Secretary expressed the feelings of the community.
“My constituents and I are disappointed at the lack of action the Department has taken to provide this essential facility. They deserve better”,
“I am interested to hear how the Department intends to take this issue forward in the near future and explain why there has been no resolution almost 15 years after initial project approval.”
Ms Fearon added that she also requested that “the development of a modern, fit for purpose Day Care Centre in Crossmaglen is strongly considered in the current Southern Trust Review of Disability Day Services.”