Charity centre saved from closure ‘but funding still desperately needed’

A CHARITY centre catering for dozens of voluntary groups in Dublin has been saved from imminent closure.

The Carmichael Centre on North Brunswick St, home to 45 charitable organisations, was set to close due to the lack of funding.

As recently as two weeks ago, letters were issued by the Board of Directors to all resident groups and the centre’s staff were issued with redundancy notices.

However, the Department of Health, through the Northern Area Health Board, has now promised emergency funding of €50,000 on top of €150,000 already allocated.

This, according to Kate O’Sullivan, CEO of the Carmichael Centre, will allow them to keep operating until the end of the year.

However, she said that ongoing core funding was still desperately needed.

“We are greatly relieved by this decision but it is tempered by the fact that it is not a permanent solution.

“This has been very tough on staff and member groups who deliver services to over 400,000 people. It has also been a very unwelcome diversion from our core work. It’s been horrible.”

Yesterday, the Northern Area Health Board confirmed that it will provide once-off funding totalling €200,000 to relieve the current crisis. This will be followed by a joint review of the centre’s activities by the Departments of Health and Children and Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards.

Ms O’Sullivan said: “We welcome the promised joint review of our operations, and we look forward to demonstrating the significant contribution being made by Carmichael Centre at minimum cost levels.

“We also expect that, as a result of this review, the centre will receive multi-annual core funding from Government so our ongoing funding crises can cease.”

Tánaiste Mary Harney yesterday praised the centre for its “extraordinarily valuable work for very vulnerable, marginalised citizens.”