No staff funding for disability programme

Less than 24 hours before polling booths open in Galway West, the Fianna Fáil candidate and Minister for the Marine, Mr Fahey…

Less than 24 hours before polling booths open in Galway West, the Fianna Fáil candidate and Minister for the Marine, Mr Fahey, is due to mark the initiation of a new day programme for people with disabilities.

However, the programme does not have funding to get started.

The "capping ceremony" at the Brothers of Charity's John Paul Centre in Galway is one of two functions which the Minister is due to carry out for the service today.

The lack of funding to run the day programme for 22 young men and women at the John Paul Centre in Ballybane was highlighted just over a week ago by the Labour leader, Mr Ruairí Quinn.

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The building for the programme has been funded under the National Development Programme, but Mr Patrick McGinley, director of services with the Brothers of Charity, has confirmed that there is no funding for staff to make use of it.

It is understood that the Minister had confirmed his attendance today as the second of a choice of two dates - the first of which was three weeks ago.

Earlier today, the Minister is to open a new day programme building in the Brothers of Charity Kilcornan centre at Clarinbridge, Co Galway. The building is also funded under the NDP and supported by the Western Health Board and will be used by 18 men and women.

It is the first new centre on the campus in 30 years, and will replace an old premises, which was unsuitable, according to the Brothers of Charity.

"The staff members who work at Cois Coille had an opportunity to contribute to the development of the building plan," Mr McGinley said.

The charity had opened the services 50 years ago and the new premises represented "a really welcome change" for the 18 men and women who would use it, and for his dedicated staff, he added.

Lorna Siggins

Lorna Siggins

Lorna Siggins is the former western and marine correspondent of The Irish Times