An interim funding agreement has been reached to secure Raphoe Diocesan Counselling Services for the time being.
The crisis-hit child and adolescent counselling service was due to close in March due to a lack of funding for leadership staff.
It has been announced today that an interim funding proposal has been agreed following meetings with the HSE, Tusla and the board.
“This proposal addresses the immediate issues that were highlighted by the Raphoe Counselling Service and it ensures the delivery of the Raphoe Diocesan Counselling Services for the foreseeable future,” a HSE spokesperson said.
“The HSE looks forward to continuing to work in collaboration with TUSLA and the Raphoe Diocesan Counselling Services to meet the needs of people who require this important service.”
The annual funding will facilitate the creation of full-time roles for a Director of Counselling and a Counselling Coordinator, as well financing two administrative personnel.
Donegal’s only non-profit youth counselling service revealed it was buckling under pressure this year due to a lack of public investment in full-time staff. The impending closure was announced as award-winning Director of Counselling, Liam Cannon, stands down after 14 years. Mr Cannon was due to leave his one-day-per-week post on January 2, following his resignation in September 2023. However, he has remained in position temporarily to lead talks to save the service that he has provided clinical governance for and built from the ground up over many years.
Based out of the Raphoe Pastoral Centre in Letterkenny, the not-for-profit community-based organisation has provided support to many thousands of clients in Donegal since 2010, delivering almost 15,000 counselling sessions in the last six years alone.
Outreach centres for children and teenagers are provided across the county in Dunfanaghy, Stranorlar, Creeslough, and Buncrana, as well as community-funded projects at Hughie’s Corner in Carndonagh and Gemma’s Legacy of Hope in Dungloe.
Following today’s announcement, Director of Counselling Liam Cannon stated: “The people of Donegal have made their voices heard and should be very proud to have this service retained thanks to this funding commitment from Tusla and the HSE.
“So many people have lobbied to have this service saved for the county and it is testament to the strength of communities across Donegal that it will now continue.
“Everyone from service users and their families to the counselling staff, political representatives, healthcare professionals, the local media, and many others, have contributed to making this happen.
“In particular, special thanks should go to Donna Harper, who lost her daughter Leona (14) in the Creeslough tragedy, for her impassioned plea to the Government to save the service, and to the many other families of service users who lobbied hard for this funding.”