An additional €36,000 of funding has been granted to the Bluestack Special Needs Foundation in Donegal Town.
It’s understood that the grant aid will be used to assist the facility to continue to provide valuable training and supports to services users with physical, sensory and intellectual disabilities living in south Donegal.
Welcoming the announcement, Cllr Noel Jordan said: “This is a fantastic result for the centre and for its hard-working staff and management team who work tirelessly to support children living with a disability in the region.
“For many years the centre had relied solely on donations and fundraising, however, after representations from Deputy Doherty to both the Minister and HSE, we finally secured agreement that the HSE would make a grant aid payment directly to the service provider in order to help cover some of the costs associated with providing these vital services.
“And I am delighted that the HSE has again decided to make a further grant aid payment for this year which it’s hoped will secure the short term future of the Bluestack Foundation and enable it to carry on its work.”
Fianna Fail TD, Pat the Cope Gallagher also welcomed the news but insisted there was work to be done to ensure this grant was on annual basis.
“This announcement certainly will assist in the running of this organization which is welcomed but we still require to get the Bluestack Foundation fully included within the HSE Capital plan so that funding of this nature becomes permanent and awarded on an annual basis to the group,” added Pat the Cope.
“The Foundation works with families and dependents with physical, sensory and intellectual and mental disabilities
“I will continue to maintain pressure on the HSE and the Minister in order to achieve that goal of permanent mainstream funding for the Bluestack Foundation so that the can continue the great work for the disabilities sector within Co Donegal.”
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