Lifford Clonleigh Resource Centre fear cliff edge as vital position set to be lost

The Lifford Clonleigh Resource Centre has issued a plea for core funding with the facility set to lose its Project Coordinator this summer.

The centre has been running since 1991 and has lasted 13 years now without core funding. However, a meeting on Thursday heard that it is now nearing the cliff edge with a vital role set to be shelved in order to make the books balance.

Some local politicians attended a meeting to hear details of the state of play.

Brid Foley will leave her role as Project Coordinator in the coming months after 27 years working in the Lifford Clonleigh Resource Centre.

The job has been eroded in recent times and would need to drop to just six hours a week due to financial constraints.

“It is a kind of circumstance-induced retirement,” Ms Foley, whose job is currently for only 11 hours per week, told Donegal Live. “To keep income over expenditure, the Coordinator post would have to drop its hours again. It's at a point now where the funds don't allow us to have a paid human resource.

“The only way we have been able to keep our head above water was by reducing the Coordinator hours. It's just no longer sustainable.”

Lifford Clonleigh Resource Centre was previously a part of a community development programme, which ceased 13 years ago.

Of those groups that had been supported, only a half-a-dozen survived.

“We are very proud that we sustained ourselves for 13 years,” Ms Foley said. “While we get funding for programmes, that doesn't cover a Coordinator or development workers.”

Local Fianna Fáil Councillor Gerry Crawford lent his weight behind the plea for assistance having attended Thursday's meeting.

“Looking back to where they started off, in a prefab, and looking at where they are now, it's obvious the dedication of the staff and volunteers attached to the Resource Centre.”

Councillor Crawford said the role of the Project Coordinator should not be filled “in the minimum way” and he hailed the staff and volunteer workers who have “done magnificently” since the centre first opened its doors.

“It is a position that needs to be filled in a meaningful way to properly carry out the functions of the place” Councillor Crawford said. “I am sure that there have been many hours spent in the centre on a voluntary capacity because it wouldn't be possible to carry it out on the hours available.

“It seems very little money when compared to the functions that is carried out.

“It is certainly worthy of support and they should be funded in a more meaningful way.”

Castlefin-based Sinn Féin Councillor Gary Doherty has suggested that the centre utilise cash reserves to have a consultant draw up a strategic plan.

“It needs a roadmap of how they see the centre functioning and that needs to be in conjunction with the local community, who must buy in and show how they use the centre and how it can be a community hub,” Councillor Doherty said.

“At the moment, the process isn't open from the Government so there is no recourse at the minute but it's either do that or lose the admin staff, which will put huge pressure on others.

“As local representatives, we will do whatever lobbying we can to get department officials and Tusla to open new Family Resource Centres, but that isn't a process that is currently opened.”

There are nine Family Resource Centres in Donegal, including sites in St Johnston, Raphoe and Stranorlar, who receive funding from Tusla.

Councillor Doherty said that all local representatives would be “fully behind” keeping the centre open.

“The Lifford Resource Centre doesn't get that core funding, but now in the short term it's important to get everyone on the one page to keep the centre fully functioning,” he said.

Ms Foley outlined a range of activities and groups that utilise the centre while the childcare centre in the facility is doubling its staff there are 32 participants in a community employment scheme.

“Groups themselves are self-sustaining, but without a coordinator, there is no staff supervision support, day-to-day decision making, annual plans,” she said.

“We are asking the local councillors to fight for us if government open up that core funding.

“We are not at the cliff edge yet, but we are nearing the top of it. Unless we get that protection and support, we could topple.”