West and South Offaly home repair service to end in August

Homefix, a social enterprise that provides a minor home repair service to people aged 65 and over in the communities of West and South Offaly, is to cease its service at the end of August.

Funded by Pobal, which provides management and support services in the areas of social inclusion and equality, confirmation that the community service programme, will no longer operate was relayed to the members at the monthly meeting of Offaly County Council.

Informing the meeting of the development, Cllr Audrey Hennessy Kennedy said that the service which operated for 17 years within the local communities of West and South Offaly was discontinuing its service.

"This was a vital service to the older persons within our local communities. Homefix provided personnel from community schemes who would help to maintain their properties and carry out minor household repairs. As elected members I am hopeful that we can all do what we can to help maintain this service and I am calling on our three Dáil representatives to address the matter further," Cllr Hennessy Kennedy said.

Cllr Peter Ormond said he was "shocked" and "disappointed" that the service would cease to be the end of August.

"This is a valuable service in our local communities with excellent staff and management. However, I have been informed that the service is no longer a feasible business model and the board of directors had to make this difficult decision. Despite this development I do believe that we should support Homefix in any way that we can. So many people will be affected by this decision and it is a service which we cannot afford to lose," Cllr Ormond said.

Cathaoirleach Cllr John Leahy said the situation required "immediate action" and called on Cllr Sean Maher, Cllr Hughie Egan and Cllr Hennessy Kennedy (representing the three Municipal Districts) to organise a meeting with the county's Dáil representatives in the hope of bringing a positive outcome to the matter.