As part of a restructuring programme the Brothers of Charity, who provide services for people with intellectual disability, have set up six local companies and a new national Brothers of Charity Services Ireland company.
It will co-ordinate their work in Ireland and is currently based at Clarinbridge, Co Galway.
The brothers' six local companies include the Brothers of Charity Southern Services, the Brothers of Charity Services Limerick, the Brothers of Charity Services Clare, the Brothers of Charity Services Galway, the Brothers of Charity Services South-East and the Brothers of Charity Services Roscommon.
Each local company has a board of directors which includes family members of those using the service, community leaders and others with pastoral, business, financial and legal backgrounds.
The brothers said they had undertaken this restructuring in the best interest of the people who use its services.
Their regional leader, Brother Noel Corcoran, said "there are no longer any brothers working in the local services and we wish to enhance the autonomy of the local services and ensure further inclusion of people who use the services, families and the wider community in the governance of our service."
This restructuring follows extensive consultations with relevant parties, including the Health Service Executive. Currently the Brothers of Charity Services in Ireland provide a range of supports to 3,000 people and their families, with a staff of over 3,000 from a wide range of professional disciplines.
