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Kerry Parents and Friends face difficult funding cuts

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FUNDING CRISIS: Dermot and Rita Moriarty with Rita's sister Roseanne O'Connor from Tiernaboul with Marie Lenihan (KPF) and Denis Kerins from Gneeveguilla. Photo: Grigoriy Geniyevskiy

 

EXCLUSIVE

By Sean Moriarty

A Kerry service which provides immeasurable support to its clients and their families faces a devastating €60,000 budget cut this year.

Kerry Parents and Friends Association (KPFA), who care for 270 special needs patients across Kerry - 115 of them based in the greater Killarney area - say they will have no choice but to cut back on services after the HSE made the announcement this week.

Some difficult decisions will now have to be made by the service as they face cutting either  wages of two staff members, hiring two mini buses, or 50 respite bed nights this year.

KPFA were told earlier this week by the HSE that the funding cutback was part of a national cost cutting exercise.

Between 2000 and 2013, the Kerry service suffered a range of funding cutbacks, so much so that its regulator informed them in 2014 that it would have to recruit more staff to meet the standards expected.

This was followed by a few difficult years where KPFA operated at a loss, but looked like they were about to turn the corner this year - until the HSE dealt the funding blow earlier this week.

“Just as we felt we were finally getting back on our feet we lose another €60,000,” KPFA Chief Executive, Marie Lenihan, told the Killarney Advertiser.

“We will have no choice but to cut back on services. We are very sad and upset to have to do this. There were rumours about cutbacks but we really hoped it would not come to our door. The Government is at fault, they signed off the HSE budgets, and with politicians knocking at our doors these days, I would ask what are you going to do to meet the needs of people with disabilities nationwide.”

In a statement this week the HSE said that; ‘All health services are this year working on making savings, and have targets for these savings. Cork Kerry Community Healthcare has sought to discuss with KPFA how it can make savings without impacting services. Unfortunately this discussion has yet to take place, but we remain available to discuss this with KPFA. We have made it very clear that these savings must not impact on the people using KPFA's services’.

 

 

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New Streetscapes murals launched at College Square

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A colourful collaboration between the Kerry Local Creative Youth Partnership (LCYP) and the Architecture Kerry Festival at Kerry County Council launched yesterday evening at College Square.

Titled Streetscapes, the open-air public art installation officially opened at 5pm on Thursday, accompanied by a performance from the Killarney Youth Drumming Band THUMP! under the guidance of Urs Wenk from Drum Dance Ireland.


The public art project features a series of wall murals depicting Killarney through the eyes of local children, exploring freedom, play, and potential future evolutions of the townscape.

The artworks reimagine Killarney’s iconic landmarks and streets, blending youthful imagination and curiosity.


Supported under the Creative Ireland Programme, the installation is mounted on the gable wall of Reen’s Life Pharmacy in College Square, where it will remain on public display until March 2027.


Speaking at the launch, Daniel O’Shea, Youth Development Officer at Kerry ETB, stated: “Streetscapes is a wonderful celebration of how children see things. Their creativity brings new perspectives to the townscape, and we are proud to support their ideas and their art through this public artwork.”


Deirdre Enright, Co-Ordinator of the Local Creative Youth Partnership at Kerry ETB, acknowledged the community support behind the initiative: “We are very grateful to Reen’s Life Pharmacy who have shared their built space with us. Huge credit is due to the artistic team from Me+The Moon whose dedication to creativity and to children’s art shine through in this work.”


The project forms part of the annual Architecture Kerry Festival and receives funding through Creative Ireland and the Department of Education and Youth via Kerry ETB and Kerry County Council.


Victoria McCarthy, Festival Organiser and Architectural Conservation Officer at Kerry County Council, welcomed the continued inter-agency project: “It’s always a great event for Architecture Kerry and we are so pleased with this collaboration between public sector organisations. It remains a key feature of the Architecture Kerry programme.”
See next week’s Killarney Advertiser for full photographic coverage of the event.

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Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise

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Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise

Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise

Dr Crokes GAA Club hosted a special day out for its senior members on Monday, this week, taking a group aged between 70 and 90 on a cruise across the Lakes of Killarney.

Organised by the Dr Crokes Healthy Club committee under its Crokes Cruisers initiative, the event was held to recognise the lifetime contribution made by long-standing members who continue to support club activities behind the scenes.
The group travelled on two vessels, including An Cathal, an open boat operated by local brothers Tony and Mike Fleming. Built to preserve the traditional Killarney lake boat style, it is the only purpose-built, fully accessible boat on the lakes, allowing members with mobility issues and wheelchair users to safely join the two-hour trip.
Following the lake tour, the party gathered on shore for coffee and refreshments provided by Derric McMahon and Harry Clifton of the Ross Castle Garden Cafe.
The initiative forms part of the club’s ongoing community work as a Gold Award winner in the GAA Healthy Club programme.

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