Autism services in Inishowen have received a significant boost with confirmation that iCARE has secured an additional €200,000 in annual funding from the HSE.
The allocation, announced this week, will support iCARE in expanding its programmes for autistic children and young people and provide extra assistance for families across the peninsula. The funding has been made available through the Department of Children, Disability and Equality following discussions on the growing demand for services in the area.
iCARE was founded in September 2000 by a group of parents determined to create a support network for families living with autism in Inishowen.
Read more: iCARE has relied heavily on charitable donations, including this one, over the years
Over the past quarter of a century it has steadily extended its services, establishing the iCARE Centre in Buncrana in 2007, the Sonas Youth Club for teenagers in 2013, and most recently, the iADULT Day Service in 2020.
From its centre in Buncrana, iCARE provides after-school sessions, a Saturday Club, and school holiday programmes, offering structured activities that develop social and communication skills while giving families much-needed respite. The Sonas Youth Club provides a safe, youth-led space for older children and teenagers to socialise and learn life skills, while the iADULT Day Service supports autistic adults through activities that promote independence, employment opportunities, and community involvement.
Chairperson of iCARE Doreen Friel and members of the Board of Management and iCARE Staff and children pictured with HSE staff Edel Quinn, Head of Disability Services, Paula Quinn, Business Manager for Disability Services and Teresa Haughey, Finance Day Service Officer at the announcement of major annual core funding of €200,000 for iCARE. Also in the photograph are Charlie McConalogue TD, Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD, and county councillors Fionan Bradley and Jack Murray
Welcoming the announcement, HSE Head of Disability Services for the North West, Edel Quinn, said the extra funding would help strengthen local services.
"I am delighted that €200,000 additional funding has been secured by the HSE for iCARE," she said. "HSE Disability Services have a long history of working in partnership with iCARE to meet the needs of people with autism in the Inishowen area. The additional funding will further enhance the services available.
"The commitment and dedication of the iCARE Board of Directors, past and present, has ensured that services have developed and expanded over the past 25 years, and the HSE will continue to work in partnership with iCARE over the next 25 years."
Doreen Friel, Chairperson of the iCARE Board of Directors, said the funding was a vital lifeline.
"We are absolutely delighted to receive this substantial additional funding from the HSE. It is a huge endorsement and a very welcome recognition of the work we do here in iCARE," she said.
"This funding will allow us to further increase our reach to families and young people who find themselves isolated. We intend to be creative and strategic in supporting more families across Inishowen.
"A massive thank you to Edel Quinn and her team for their support. We are indebted to Minister Charlie McConalogue for his support with this submission, and to our other public representatives for their ongoing advocacy and work on our behalf."
While the iADULT service is fully funded by the HSE, iCARE's programmes for children and families have until now received just 40% of their costs through State support. The shortfall was met through donations, fundraising, and grants such as the National Lottery, but demand for services has been rising steadily. Without additional core funding, the organisation had warned it risked being unable to maintain the level of care families depend on.
The new funding allocation will be used to increase and stabilise the iCARE workforce, broaden the range of programmes on offer, and improve access to services for families across Inishowen.
The announcement is being hailed as a turning point for the organisation as it prepares to mark its 25th anniversary this month.
For many families, iCARE has been a lifeline, providing not only services for children but also a weekly parent support group where experiences and resources are shared.
"iCARE plays a crucial role in breaking down barriers and promoting inclusion," a statement welcoming the annual funding commitment said. "It is steadfast in its commitment to advocating for children and young people with autism and ensuring that they have equitable opportunities."
For iCARE, the latest funding is both a recognition of its past work and an investment in its future.
iCARE Board of Management members pictured with HSE staff l-r Emma Hooks, Margaret Farren, Lee Tedstone, Teresa Haughey, Paula Quinn, Minister of State Charlie McConalogue TD, Edel Quinn, Doreen Friel (Chairperson Board of Management), David Galbraith, Lorena McGrory, Liam Galbraith, Bernie Galligan and Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD.