€36,000 approved for Bluestack Foundation in Donegal Town

Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher Leas Cheann Comhairle has welcomed the decision to approve interim funding of €36,000 for the Bluestack Foundation in Donegal Town.

Deputy Gallagher said the funding measure will assist in the running of the organisation in the coming months.

"The Bluestack Foundation carries out trojan work in assisting young people with disabilities in south and west Donegal and the organisation thus far has been ran totally on voluntary contributions from the general public organised by a group of volunteers," he said.

"Earlier this year we were all absolutely shocked when the Government failed to include the Foundation in the Ability Programme, which when announced failed to include any disability organisation in the north west of Ireland.

"Today’s announcement will in some way ease the incredible disappointment of the failure to include the Bluestack Foundation in the Ability Programme.

"But this interim measure cannot be a substitute for the need for mainstream funding for this group. The Bluestack Foundation on its own merits deserves to be in receipt of mainstream annual funding such as can be availed of through the Ability Programme."

Bluestack House, Donegal Town 

Deputy Gallagher said he personally challenged An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar on this very issue in the Dáil.

"I further wrote to him with a map highlighting the regional imbalance as a result of the decision taken by his Government," he said.

"It is only through this degree of political pressure has the Government, through the HSE, reacted and allocated this interim funding. But I can assure the Bluestack Foundation that this is not the end of the campaign and until they are in receipt of permanent funding I for one will not rest."