CONCERNS OVER THE FUTURE OF CRANMORE FAMILY SERVICE
THERE’S mounting concern that a TUSLA-funded Family Support Services based in the heart of Cranmore community could be moved out of the area.
Sinn Féin Councillor Chris MacManus raised the issue at Monday’s meeting of Sligo Municipal District at City Hall.
His motion urged the Council to “view with concern” any possible re-location of these services off the estate.
Cllr MacManus also called on the Council to contact both TUSLA and Springboard, who manage Resource House where it is based, to get their views on the matter.
He claimed any move out of the estate of the Family Support Services could affect the social regeneration within Cranmore.
Cllr MacManus was told by council officials that they had already written to TUSLA reminding them that the Regeneration Masterplan sought to maintain services and supports on the estate and urging them to support the retention of the service on the estate. TUSLA has not replied yet. The Regeneration office also wrote to the Chairperson of the Resource House on 12 th September asking them to review the decision to relocate staff and offered to provide another location on the estate if this was an issue.
This letter was just acknowledged only.
Cllr MacManus said “there’s no one supportive of this move. It shows a lack of confidence in the community. It has taken years to put that project together. When stakeholders starting indicating they’re going to pull out it undermines everything.”
He was supported by Independent Councillor Declan Bree who said he was “shocked” when he was contacted by con- stituents from Cranmore who told him that the current board of management of the Resource House Project was planning to move part of the family support service out of the estate.
“This is a service which has been based in Cranmore since it was first established and which has been used by a large number of people from the community over years.
“It is a service which has a unique reputation in terms of crisis intervention and a service which has won the confidence and support of the people of the Cranmore community.
“It is a service where local people felt that were being listened to and a service which they felt was very much part and parcel of their community.
“This proposal from the board of management to move the service out of Cranmore without any consultation with the local community can only be described as shocking and unacceptable,” he said.
“It also calls into question the current governance of the project. It appears to be completely disconnected from the local community.
“It is very clear to me that is a huge lack of confidence in the manner in which the board of management is taking decisions and I find it difficult to conceive that the Child and Family Agency, TUSLA, would approve such behaviour,” he added.
Sligo County Council does not fund the Resource House other than a small contribution to the Breakfast Club.