Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Under Fine Gael’s tenure, more and more community-led projects in Donegal are under constant threat of closure due to inadequate funding from the Government. Despite many promises that funding would be provided in 2019 as part of the HSE capital plan, this funding has not materialised. Instead, parents and volunteers continue to provide funds and invest a huge amount of time and energy just to keep the doors of these vital services open. However, closure is still very much in sight and is facing several community-led organisations in Donegal. Lifeline Inishowen, for example, which provides support for women and children who experience domestic violence, is under constant threat of being shut down because, as a community-led organisation, it does not conform to the Government model of delivery of services.

I raised this issue in my speech to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, which coincided with the handing over of a petition signed by more than 1,000 Lifeline Inishowen supporters to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Zappone, in Leinster House a number of months ago. No progress has been made to date, despite the fact that Lifeline has stepped in where the Government has consistently stepped out by providing a service in an area where the nearest available services are in Letterkenny, which is more than 60 km away and a two-hour round trip for those who find themselves in an emergency. Last year, Ireland finally ratified the Istanbul Convention, an international instrument to combat domestic violence, yet here we have an example of victims of domestic abuse being further marginalised by the Government. Among the tenets of the Istanbul Convention is that state parties implement comprehensive and co-ordinated policies involving Government agencies, non-governmental organisations as well as national, regional and local parliaments and authorities.

We have also ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, yet iCARE, which is also based in Inishowen, faces a similar situation. The organisation was set up in 2000 and I had the pleasure of visiting its facility to meet the staff and service users. I saw at first hand the incredible work carried out by the iCARE project to provide much-needed educational, social and respite services for children with autism and their families. It was clear that this community-led model works. However, as has been the case across the country under this Government, funding is constantly running out and iCARE is constantly under threat of closure. This is despite the organisation being marked as value for money and the HSE using the facility and referring children to it.

The Bluestack Foundation received €36,000 from the HSE in February with the understanding that it was an interim payment until the Estimates for 2019 were completed. However, it is still waiting for a Government response. Organisations such as the Bluestack Foundation and iCARE are in need of a serious sustainable funding commitment from the Taoiseach and the Government, particularly as the demand for their services is increasing all the time.

The fact that these community-led services were established by concerned parents to service a particular local need and are under threat of closure says it all about the Government's priorities. Will the Taoiseach secure long-term multi-annual funding for iCARE, the Bluestack Foundation and Lifeline in order that these vital services can continue to provide important supports to local people, recognising the fact that we have ratified both the Istanbul Convention and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities?

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