Limerick outreach project for women among four granted funding

Minister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for Public Health Jennifer Murnane O’Connor: Assertive outreach services are helping us to reach those who are all too often marginalised and ignored, giving them a chance to receive support and care to improve their health. Picture: Sam Boal/Collins photos

An outreach project in Limerick that helps vulnerable women to access housing, addiction, and domestic violence supports is among four programmes that have received funding totalling €665,000.

It was announced by minister of state at the Department of Health with special responsibility for public health, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, who visited the Ana Liffey Drug Project Mid West in Limerick on Thursday.

Ana Liffey Mid West's Women’s Health Programme, set up in 2024, has been provided with €126,562.

Other projects that have received funding are:

• HSE South West – Good Shepherd Cork: €218,366 to fund a multi-disciplinary team to improve access to health services for women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness;
• HSE Dublin and North East — Ana Liffey Drug Project: €200,000 to provide a gender-based violence trainer and case manager to current services;
• HSE Dublin and North East — €120,000 to improve healthcare services to support Traveller women who experience or are at risk of experiencing homelessness.

“I am pleased to confirm that projects originally funded under the Women’s Health Action Plan, that support local services, are now being funded on a recurring and sustainable basis,” Ms Murnane O’Connor said.

She said she visited the Ana Liffey Drug Project in Limerick and heard how this funding can have a “life-altering impact” on women who are supported to access the healthcare services they require.

“Assertive outreach services are helping us to reach those who are all too often marginalised and ignored, giving them a chance to receive support and care to improve their health,” she said.

Meaningful improvements

Dawn Russell, CEO of Ana Liffey Drug Project, said the visit reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to its work.

She said they have been providing services in the Mid-West since 2012, supporting individuals, families, and communities affected by drug and alcohol use.

Ms Russell said the Women’s Health Programme operates across Limerick, Clare, and North Tipperary, and supports women to access addiction services, healthcare, housing supports, and specialist responses to domestic violence, parenting needs, and reproductive health.

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She said that more than 100 women from diverse backgrounds have engaged with the programme, many for the first time and have achieved meaningful improvements in health, stability, and wellbeing.

She said the programme works in partnership with primary care services and University Hospital Limerick.

LEAR programme

The minister also learned about Ana Liffey’s LEAR programme, which has been operating in Limerick City since 2022 in partnership with An Garda Síochána.

It provides intensive case management to people with complex needs related to addiction, criminality, homelessness, and mental health.

Ms Russell said that through close collaboration between gardaí and Ana Liffey staff, the programme supports individuals to move away from criminal activity and towards recovery, stability, and positive engagement with services.

LEAR is currently supporting 65 people.

Ana Liffey Midwest delivers a range of low-threshold harm reduction services across the region, including outreach through its mobile health unit, naloxone training, prison in-reach, and targeted supports for people sleeping rough.

In 2025, the Midwest team worked with approximately 500 people, many, Ms Russell said, face multiple and overlapping challenges such as addiction, homelessness, domestic violence, and poor mental health.