The Phoenix Centre in Ballaghaderreen is among the local youth services which is set to re-open next week following work by the Roscommon Galway Education and Training Board.
Foroige is set to take over as the interim service provider in the Phoenix Centre for an initial six month period. The Centre, along with youth services in Roscommon town and Ballygar closed after the Department of Children and Youth Affairs withdrew funding from Youth Work Ireland (full details here).
In addition to the Ballaghaderreen facility re-opening, Youth Work Midlands will provide information services to young people in Roscommon and Galway while West Trav and Involve will deliver an outreach service to young travellers in Ballygar. A Foroige volunteer run Youth Club was established in Ballygar last October as there was no such service in the area following the closure of their Youth Work Ireland Service in 2014.
The interim services will be run by these bodies for the next six months time. During this time the Roscommon Galway Education and Training Board and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs which conduct an analysis of young people’s needs before establishing permanent services.
The news has been welcomed by Senator Maura Hopkins who said she “is absolutely delighted”.
“This will also ensure that all of the other community groups and organisations who use the centre will now be allowed to do so again. I am very much aware of the huge amount of hard work put in by a large number of individuals and organisations to bring about this successful outcome.”
Senator Hopkins added “I was not satisfied that there was a break in services until these new service providers were put in place, however I am very satisfied to see the Department of Children and Youth Affairs being so proactive in identifying the deficiencies in the previous service and the need for change. It is vitally important that the best service possible is provided and that we get maximum impact from the funding provided through the taxpayer”.