Another Brick In The Wall For St Catherine’s

Simon from the block… MON22JUNE26

atest press release from Simon Harris TD, issued on Monday, June 22nd 2026…

The Tánaiste and Wicklow TD Simon Harris has laid the first block of St Catherine’s Association’s new Adult Day Centre in Kilcoole, at a ceremony marking the development.

The Adult Day Centre is the first phase of an ambitious development that will bring education, health and social care services together on a single campus in the heart of Kilcoole. It sits alongside the new St Catherine’s Special School, the sod for which was turned in December 2025.

Speaking at the event, the Tánaiste described it as “a really happy and joyous day” and one the community had waited a long time for. “The vision here was always bigger than any one building,” he said.

“The opportunity is to deliver world class disability services and create an incredible campus here in Kilcoole and to do it in a way that completely regenerates the village itself.”

Once complete, the campus will include the new Adult Day Centre, followed by an Operations and Learning Centre and a Respite Centre to meet rising demand across the county. St Catherine’s has described the Adult Day Centre as the first of its kind and a flagship model for future development.

The Tánaiste added that he hoped to see the wider site deliver supported employment, inclusive public spaces, and housing specifically designed for people with a disability.

St Catherine’s Association has served children and adults with an intellectual disability in County Wicklow for more than 50 years.

A registered charity funded by the HSE, it provides residential, respite, day and clinical services across the county.

Paying tribute to those behind the project, the Tánaiste said: “I want to thank Brendan Whelan and Michael Ward and all his team, the Board, and our HSE colleagues for the collaboration. Many people here have been working at this for decades. Please be assured of my continued support in every practical way.”

The Tánaiste was joined at the ceremony by Minister of State Emer Higgins, Councillor Shane Langrell and Councillor Tom Fortune, alongside young adults from St Catherine’s day service, their families and staff.

You can find out more about St Catherine’s Special School here, agus here, and follow on Instagram here or Facebook here, and get in touch on email here or by phone here.