Disability agency to cease family supports in wake of Tusla cutback

A group which promotes social inclusion for people with disabilities has said it will have to cease certain operations from July after Tusla officials decided to axe its funding.

The Disability Equality Specialist Support Agency, which provides courses and support services to families of disabled people, will lose its €81,000 annual allocation from Tusla Child and Family Agency due to cost-cutting measures.

The agency also receives €91,000 each year as part of a support scheme organised by the Department of Environment, but the group's manager Alice Griffin told The Irish Times that the imminent reduction will have a critical impact on the its frontline activities aimed at 400 families nationwide.

“It’s quite pathetic that they could not show due process and a bit of integrity and see this out until the end of the year,” said Ms Griffin

“The withdrawal of funding from us, in our eyes, is further evidence that they are not the child and family agency for all children. They have no regard or interest in supporting children or young people with disabilities,” she added.

Although the group will continue to receive Tusla funding up until June 30th, Ms Griffin believes it is unlikely that the agency will be able to source alternative funding to keep the affected services going beyond that date.

The Department of Environment grant means it will still give technical assistance and training to community and charitable organisations that seek to include disabled people in their activities.

She also confirmed that two staff will be let go at the end of May, leading to a 50 per cent reduction in the agency’s workforce from four to two. Management say they will attempt to secure funding from other State bodies, but no guarantees have been forthcoming as yet.

Ms Griffin said she received the news from a Tusla official during what she thought would be a routine planning meeting last week; a situation described by agency chairwoman Jacqui Browne as "covert, underhand . . . and completely disgraceful" on Tusla's part.

A letter sent to the agency by Tusla’s chief operating officer, Fred McBride, last Friday confirmed the move.

It was added that the decision will not force the closure of more than 100 Family Resource Centres through which the agency provides its services.

Representatives from Tusla and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs have not yet responded to queries from The Irish Times.