A pioneering charity in Letterkenny has been allocated €3,072,700 to advance vital services supporting children with disabilities in Donegal.
Children from across the county are set to benefit from services at the No Barriers Foundation under the HSE’s Children’s Disability Services Grant Fund.
The funding was offered to organisations, including community groups and service providers, to support children who are on a waiting list for Children’s Disability Network Team (CNDT) services.
Three other Donegal organisations receiving funding are:
Finn Valley Leisure Centre which received €34,000 to offer swimming lessons specifically designed for people with Down Syndrome, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, and Spina Bifida.
Health Hub Professionals NI was allocated €302,001 to provide physiotherapy, speech & language therapy, and occupational hand therapy with splinting services for children with disabilities living in Donegal.
Spraoi agus Spórt secured €210,000 to develop a more extensive and comprehensive package of play/music/art therapy services for children and young people with disabilities in Inishowen.
A number of the larger projects will be funded over a three year cycle.
At the No Barriers Foundation this evening with Minister Anne Rabbitte, TD, Minister of State for Disability, are Cllr. Jimmy Kavanagh, Edel Quinn, HSE, Head of Service Disability CHO1, Marina Quirke, No Barriers, Denise Donaghey, Jack Donaghey, Minister of State for Disability, Anne Rabbitte TD, Charlie McConalogue, TD, Minister for Agriculture, Marine and Food, Johnny Loughery, No Barriers, Andrea McFeely, No Barriers, Cllr. Ciaran Brogan and Michael McGeehan, Chairperson No Barrriers. Photo Clive Wasson
Making the announcement at No Barriers Foundation at Mountain Top Letterkenny today, Minister Rabbitte commented: “I am conscious that many families are awaiting services and I expect this fund will provide additional options for those children with complex needs.
“This fund is an initial step by the HSE in developing further supports for families and aims to augment the capacity of the Children’s Disability Network Teams by ensuring there’s an added layer of supports for children to access. This, in turn, will hopefully mean parents feel less under pressure.
“There is wonderful work being done by the HSE and services around Donegal and this funding goes some way to acknowledge that. The demand for the fund was high so unfortunately not all applications could be supported but the organisations announced today will undoubtedly be a wonderful addition for families in Donegal.”
Minister Rabbitte added: “I’ve seen first-hand the wonderful work of No Barriers so it’s great to see their efforts being further supported in the area of paediatric physio.
“This will be an absolute game changer for children in Donegal and the surrounding area, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact this initiative will inevitably have in the county,” concluded Minister Rabbitte.