GROUP’S €130K FUNDING THAT NEVER ARRIVED
It’s Good 2 Talk has received ‘not a penny’ since funds promise
A WEXFORD charity is still waiting for funding from the HSE – which was promised to it nearly two and a half years ago.
In December 2015, it was announced that It’s Good 2 Talk was to receive €130,000 to help it continue to provide its counselling service to the community.
At the time, Kathleen Lynch, the then Minister of State for Primary Care, Mental Health and Disability, said the money would come from the HSE through a service level agreement.
However, the Wexford People has learned that no money was forwarded to the organisation and councillors David Hynes and George Lawlor, who both welcomed the announcement at the time, said that funding is vital if the organisation is to continue.
Cllr Hynes said: ‘I was on the board at the time and to the best of my knowledge we have received not a penny since.’
Cllr Lawlor said the allocation wasn’t handed over because the HSE said some of the counsellors involved with the organisation are not accredited by organisations that it recognises.
IT’S GOOD 2 Talk is one of the most highly regarded community support organisations in Wexford and when an announcement was made in December 2015, that it was to receive €130,000 in funding from the HSE the news was broadly welcomed.
However, this newspaper has learned that in the interim none of the promised money has been made available to the organisation.
The Chairperson of the Board at that time was Cllr. David Hynes and when contacted about the matter he said his current involvement with the organisation is as a counsellor only.
‘I was on the Board at the time and to the best of my knowledge we have received not a penny since,’ he said.
He said such funding is vital to keep the organisation going and for it to continue providing ‘a very important service’ to the people of Wexford.
However, he also commented that ‘with so many hoops to have to go through in the first place’, not receiving the funding was a ‘slap in the face’.
‘I feel as if we were left to the tender mercy of the HSE,’ he said.
While he is no longer on the Board Cllr Hynes is a member of the Friends of It’s Good 2 Talk committee and he said the efforts to secure funding for the project are ongoing.
The organisation receives financial support from clients and through fundraising initiatives organised by the Friends committee. That’s one of the reasons the news of the HSE allocation was broadly welcomed three years ago because up to that point the organisation had received no Government financial support.
‘It’s difficult to keep the show on the road but we do have to keep trying to fund the project,’ said Cllr Hynes.
‘That money would make a huge difference to an organisation like that,’ he added.
He also criticised local politicians of turning a blind eye to the situation and not doing enough to ensure the funding came through.
Cllr Hynes confirmed that issues arose after the announcement was made. ‘I was on the Board at the time and I felt like we had hit a brick wall and there was no attempt made by the HSE to get around it.’
He said an issue arose around the HSE recognising the qualifications of some of those providing services in the organisation.
‘The HSE is not providing the service it should be and we cannot come in, take up the slack and then be told you are not qualified,’ he added.
‘The people down there are professionally qualified to do the excellent job they do.’
Cllr George Lawlor was also in attendance at the announcement three years ago and he said the allocation wasn’t handed over because the HSE said some of the counsellors involved with the organisation are not accredited by organisations that it recognises.
‘That’s not to say the people doing the work are not professionally qualified because they are,’ he said.
‘It’s Good 2 Talk provides a superb service and it’s vital for the county that continues,’ he added.
He criticised the HSE for its stance and said it was being ‘precious about what it recognises’.
‘It angered me because these people are qualified,’ he said.
‘These people are highly qualified but the HSE appears to be precious about what body awards you your certification.’
Cllr Lawlor reiterated his County Council colleagues comment that keeping the service going is ‘vital’ for the county.
‘It’s vital to ensure this superb organisation remains open in Wexford.’
A spokesperson for the HSE said a response would be made by the organisation, however, at the time of going to press, no statement was received. The current It’s Good 2 Talk Chairperson was unavailable for comment prior to going to press.