Almost €1.3m in once off funding for voluntary and community health providers in Offaly

Local Fianna Fáil TD, Barry Cowen, has confirmed that Offaly will receive almost €1.3m in once-off funding from the Government’s ‘Inflation Fund’ to assist with costs related to energy inflation. This funding will go towards various community-based and voluntary health and social care providers in the region who have faced serious cost-of-living pressures.

The Department of Health has worked with the HSE to finalise the scope and basis for distributing this funding amongst relevant provider organisations. There are over 1,450 organisations that will receive payments, ranging from local community groups to major national service providers.

Deputy Barry Cowen said: “I am delighted to welcome this funding for Offaly, which will go a long way towards recognising the increased costs incurred by community-based and voluntary health and social care providers in our region. These organisations play a vital role in providing front-line services to some of the most vulnerable members of our society, and it is important that they are supported during these challenging times.”

He added: "The impact of high inflation on costs related to energy prices has been a major challenge for community-based and voluntary health and social care providers across the region. This additional funding will help to ease some of the financial pressures faced by these organisations and enable them to continue delivering essential services to those who need them most."

The allocation of €81m from the Government’s ‘Inflation Fund’ was announced today (Monday) by the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Anne Rabbitte, Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler, and Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Hildegarde Naughton. The funding is a once-off payment in recognition of inflationary cost increases incurred over the course of 2022, and the impact of these on the cost of delivering services under each organisation’s relevant agreement with the Department of Health.

Deputy Cowen said, "I'd like to thank Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, and his colleagues, for their support and commitment to the health and well-being of our communities. This funding will go a long way towards supporting the invaluable work of community-based and voluntary health and social care providers in Offaly."

He concluded: "I am committed to continuing to work with my colleagues in Government to ensure that our communities have access to the resources and support they need to thrive, particularly during these challenging times."

Minister Pippa Hackett said:

“Voluntary and community organisations are working on the ground to help people of Offaly live fulfilled and supported lives. They are under pressure from escalating costs and I am delighted that this Government is providing one off funding in recognition of this. Organisations across Offaly, who provide services like Meals on Wheels, social inclusion and much more, will benefit. The minimum payment is €1,000 and in many cases a larger amount is allocated, depending on the organisation, and I believe this is a welcome help towards increased costs.”

Minister Donnelly said:

"Voluntary organisations play absolutely vital roles in providing front-line services to the most vulnerable in our society: people with disabilities, older people, those suffering from addiction, mental health problems and life-limiting illnesses. Many of these service providers have faced serious pressures in light of high inflation in 2022. I hope that this additional once-off funding will go some way towards recognising those costs.”

Community-based and voluntary health and social care providers are being allocated the funding on a once-off basis as part of government measures to ease cost-of-living pressures. There are over 1,450 organisations that will receive payments, ranging from local community groups to major national service providers.

Around €62 million will go to disability service providers, €6.8 million to older persons services, €3.9 million into social inclusion (including drugs and homeless services), €3.3 million into palliative care, €0.4 million to health and wellbeing and €0.6 million to other organisations operating in the primary care space, including many disease-specific NGOs.

The following groups in Offaly will benefit from the funding: Accessible Counselling Tullamore (ACT), €1,000, Arden View Active Age, €1,000, Ballycommon Telework and Training Centre, €1,000, Banagher Social Services, €1,000, Banagher Active Retirement Association, €1,000, Ballykilmurry Active Retirement Group, €1,000, Bracknagh Community Assocation, €1,000, Clara Active Retirement Group, €1,000, Clara Community and Family Resource Centre Company, €1,000, Cloghan Active Retirement Group, €1,000, Clonbullogue Active Retirement Group, €1,000, Clonbullogue Senior Citizen's Group, €1,000, Cloneygowan Active Retirement Group, €1,000, Coolderry Community Hall Committee, €1,000, Croghan Hill Active Retirement Association, €1,000, Doon/Ballinahown Afternoon Social Club, €1,000, Edenderry Social Services Council, €1,000, Eglish and Rath Community Centre, €1,000, Ferbane Active Retirement Association, €1,000, Geashill/Ballinagar Senior Citizen's Group, €1,000, Kilclonfert Senior Group, €1,000,

Kilcormac Meals on Wheels, €1,000, Kilcormac Social Services, €1,000, Killeigh Senior Citizen's, €1,000, Killoughey Community Centre, €1,000, Kinnity Social Services, €1,000, Midlands Living Links, €250, Moneygall/Dunkerrin/ Barna Social Services, €1,000, Mountbolus Social Services, €1,000, Mucklagh Community, €1,000, North Offaly Community Development Network, €1,000, Offaly Centre for Independent Living, €60,607, Offaly Integrated Local Development Company, €7,245, Offaly Sports Partnership, €1,000, Offaly Traveller Movement, €5,505, Pullough Active Retirement & Social Care Group, €1,000, Pullough Community Action Group, €2,000, Rahan Social Services, €1,000, Rhode and Croghan Senior Citizen's, €1,000, Seir Kieran Active Retirement Association, €1,000, Shannonbridge Active Retirement Association, €1,000,

Shannonbridge Community Services, €1,000, Shinrone Development Designated Activity Company, €1,000, Shinrone Social Services Council, €1,000, Simon Community (Midlands), €1,101, St Brigid's Active Retirement Group, €500, St Brigid's Social Club,€500, Tubber Active Retirement, €1,000, Tubber Active Retirement Association, €1,000, Tullamore Active Retirement Association, €1,000, Tullamore Community and Family Resource Centre, €1,000, Tullamore Housing Association Company, €1,000, Tullamore ICA, €1,000, Tullamore Meals on Wheels, €1,000 and Tullamore Men's Shed, €1,000.