Article Updated: 11.30am
Services at a Falcarragh equine therapy centre have come under threat as they wait four months for the Children’s Disability Grant, says Sinn Féin Cllr John Sheamais Ó Fearraigh.
Caring Capall applied for the HSE fund last year, which was announced to support private and community services for children waitlisted to access disability services.
However, despite Caring Capall applying for the grant in December they have received no contact regarding the decision.
Cllr Ó Fearraigh said the funding was intended to be an emergency provision: “The Children’s Disability Grant was designed as an emergency interim measure to alleviate pressure from the Children’s Disability Network teams in Donegal who are currently in crisis.”
Cllr Ó Fearraigh said that Caring Capall were told they would be accepted/rejected in the first few weeks of February.
“It’s now April and they still haven’t received anything. This isn’t good enough,” he said.
“I’m also certain that they are not alone in having to wait for this funding.
“Caring Capall desperately need this support. Given the incredible work that Caring Capall has done since it opened back in April last year, this is outrageous and was completely avoidable.”
Cllr Ó Fearraigh and his party colleague Deputy Pearse Doherty visited the centre in December and witnessed first-hand how much of an impact the therapy provided has on children.
He added: “The National HSE Disability Services manage the Children’s Disability Grant and they must provide an explanation for why there has been such a delay with what was supposed to be emergency funding.
“Sinn Féin have written to them and to government seeking an explanation.”
