Autism group in Cork forced to stop accepting new members due to lack of space

Cork’s Rainbow Club's staff and volunteers will now concentrate on their existing 1,352 members, who will not be affected by the decision

Part of the Rainbow Club project 2022 at Mahon Community Centre. Its current premises are too small for further expansion. File picture Denis Minihane

The only autism group of its kind in Ireland has been forced to close to new members because of increased demand for its services.

Cork’s Rainbow Club, which offers support for people with autism and their families, has grown too big to meet demand.

Its current premises are too small for further expansion, and its staff and volunteers will now concentrate on their existing 1,352 members, who will not be affected by the decision.

The club, based in the Mahon Community Centre, is due to move to bigger premises later this year.

But it is already struggling to meet its €1.3 million-a-year running costs, of which €346,000 comes from the HSE for respite care.

Rent for their current premises is €8,000-a-month, and is so high due, in part, to the fact they are renting modular buildings attached to the community centre.

In a statement, the club said: “It is with deep regret that we must let you all know that Rainbow Club Cork Centre for Autism will be suspending its registration to new families on August 29th at 5pm.

The Orange room in the Rainbow Club at Mahon Community Centre. Rent for their current premises is €8,000-a-month. File picture Denis Minihane

“Unfortunately, we are now operating at a maximum capacity - with our space, staffing, funding and resources stretched to the limit.

“Securing the keys to our forever home has been one of our key priorities over the last few years.

“A new premises will give us the space and stability we need to grow and support more families.

What's your view on this issue?

You can tell us here

“While we are not there just yet, we are making strong and positive progress that we hope will become a reality soon to help alleviate a lot of the strain we currently face.

“We hope that this will be an interim measure, and that we will be in a position to reopen our registrations once we have the capacity, space and resources to do so.”

Chief executive Karen O’Mahony told the Irish Examiner the decision to close the doors to new members was “the worst decision” she has had to make since she and her husband founded the Rainbow Club Cork Centre for Autism in 2015.