Dozens of voluntary and community providers in Galway will benefit from a special fund of nearly €5million from the Department of Health.
This once-off payment is aimed to ease the cost of living pressures on community-based and voluntary health and social care providers.
Local TD and Government Chief Whip, Hildegarde Naughton, says voluntary organisations in Galway play a vital role in providing care for some of the most vulnerable in our society.
"They provided this care during Covid and are continuing to do so despite increases in their costs. These once-off payments will go some way to alleviating those pressures.”
The Department of Health has worked with the HSE to finalise a scope and basis for distributing this funding amongst relevant provider organisations. This is now agreed, and payments will shortly commence to the 1,450 organisations nationally, ranging from local community groups to major national service providers.
“Voluntary organisations in Galway play a vital role in providing care for some of the most vulnerable in our society," says Minister Naughton
“I am particularly pleased to see Ability West, which provides services to those with disabilities, receive €1,055,437 and the Brothers of Charity, which provides a range of services to those with intellectual disabilities and their families, receive €2,702,761. The Galway Hospice is also included and receives €399,749."
“This is a once-off payment in recognition of inflationary cost increases incurred over 2022, and the impact of these on the cost of delivering the services. These organisations provide vital care across a range of areas and whose costs have increased, particularly in the area of heat and light. It is therefore only right that Government provides this funding in order to assist them at this time."
