Parkinson’s Ireland has warned that its services are at risk due to the low level of State funding.
The organisation’s north west branch serves Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim and runs exercise classes in Letterkenny and Donegal town.
It currently receives €70,000 a year but said this amounts to just 10% of its overall income when, on average, other neurological charities receive over 50% of their income from the government.
The charity’s Chief Executive, Shane O’Brien, told RTE News it applied to the HSE for an extra €121,000 under Section 39 funding. Without this funding, services are at risk of being cut.
The charity said it is facing a deficit each year of €160,000 to continue to operate a free Parkinson’s disease support line, staffed by two nurse specialists and a part-time dietitian.
Around 15,000 people have Parkinson’s disease and it is the fastest-growing neurological condition.
The numbers are set to double by 2040, due to increased life expectancy.
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological condition and there is currently no cure.
Parkinson’s Ireland provides a range of services for people living with the disease, their families and care partners.
It said the €70,000 a year current funding is ringfenced for services in Galway and Mayo for physiotherapy and speech therapy.
The organisation said it has also lobbied Minister for Disability Roderic O’Gorman, Minister of State for Disability Anne Rabbitte and Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly on the funding issue.
The HSE said that it funds a range of community services and supports for people with Parkinson’s, including through acute and primary care.
It said it has received a number of business cases from Parkinson’s Ireland.
The HSE said that funding requests will need to be considered in the context of the overall neuro-rehabilitation strategy.
For full report, see www.rte.ie
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