Fears for St Aidan’s remain despite early payment of €100,000
A SUM of €100,000 will be paid to St Aidan’s Day Care Centre next month and this will be the final allocation to the agency in line with usual processes in relation to the yearly allocation of €4,793,263, according to Cllr Joe Sullivan who attended last week’s Regional Health Forum meeting in Cork.
Chief Officer TJ Dunford of South East Community Healthcare (SECH) said to Cllr Sullivan that to assist with cash flow SECH provided cash acceleration to St Aidan’s last month, which resulted in the funding payment for the agency being brought forward this month, and a sum of €100,000 will be paid next month and this will be the final allocation to the agency in line with usual processes.
Despite the good news, centre manager Maura Kelly said the HSE still owe St Aidan’s €428,635 due to their failure to honour an agreement made in 2016 to provide funding to the organisation to address a core financial deficit. Ms Kelly said ‘they have not been told a thing’ about the extra €100,000 they are due next month, adding they are still no better off and are in the same situation like last month.
Following last months news that St Aidan’s was in danger of closing because of their financial situation, Cllr Sullivan attended the Health Forum meeting to ask as to why the HSE has not paid the €428,635 it owes to St Aidan’s and to exhort the HSE to pay this with immediate effect.
At the meeting, they stated the HSE is aware of the ongoing deficit with St Aidan’s. In addition, St Aidan’s are also highlighting increased annual cost following HIQA inspections. The agency is subject to an ongoing monitoring process with HIQA and SECH is providing support to the agency in relation to same. This is comprised of increased staffing and roster changes, behaviour support and training.
SECH are continuing to engage closely with St Aidan’s services with an aim of addressing current challenges.