The Bluestack Special Needs Foundation in Donegal Town has been allocated €36,000 in grant aid from the HSE.
The funding has been warmly welcomed as a boost for the services supporting children and families with special needs. The voluntary organisation has become a vital part of the community since its establishment in 2006.
Sinn Féin Councillor Noel Jordan has today welcomed confirmation of the funding, following recent talks between the HSE and management at the Bluestack Foundation, which will now be paid directly to the service provider.
Cllr Jordan said: “I understand that this payment will assist management at the facility to continue to provide vital supports to all those who avail of its services for at least up until the end of this year.
“The Bluestack Foundation is made up largely of a team of dedicated and hard working volunteers and, through its various programmes and services, has been a vital support to children with special needs and their families by helping service users to grow and to reach their full potential.
“This is of course a fantastic result and comes following ongoing representations made by my colleague Deputy Pearse Doherty who, earlier this year, visited the centre and helped to facilitate meetings between representatives from the Bluestack Foundation, the Minister and later with the HSE.
“While this news is to be welcomed, it’s clear now that ongoing work and further engagement must continue to ensure that additional funding is made available to the centre in order to meet its funding needs and to enable the provider to continue to carry out its operations.”