A Government commitment to provide additional funding for Pieta House when the COVID-19 Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme expires has been warmly welcomed by Galway East TD and Minister for Rural Affairs Seán Canney.
The charity, which helps provide supports for those at risk of self-harm, those with suicidal ideation and those bereaved by suicide, has been under pressure to maintain its services at full capacity.
Minister Canney said: “I am pleased that in addition to existing funding of €2.03 million a year, the HSE and Pieta House have now formally agreed to additional funding of €114,608 per month, equivalent to €343,824 per quarter, once the current Government staffing cost scheme, of which Pieta House is availing, has ceased.
“This initiative will fund an additional 300 hours of support for high-risk clients with the funding being reviewed at the end of each quarter. It means that proposed cuts in therapists’ hours will be paused subject to review.”
There have been fears that Pieta House was preparing to downgrade nine of its 15 centres to hub status. Minister Canney has called on the charity’s executives to retain Pieta House West in Tuam as a full treatment centre.
Minister Canney added; “It is vital that critical services such as this continue. Tuam offers services to people across the West from Westport to Ballinasloe.
“I am also pleased to see that Pieta House recently raised more than €4 million from its Darkness into Light Sunrise Appeal. This will help offset some of the financial challenges the organisation is facing.”

For more information, contact Minister Canney on 086-2513639
May 22 2020