30th April 2010

Funding Approved for Meath Counselling Groups

Meath East TD Mary Wallace can confirm the allocation of €94,960 to 28 voluntary and community groups nwhich provide a wide range of marriage, child and bereavement counselling services and supports throughout Meath.

These grants have been approved by the Department of Social and Family Affairs under the Scheme of Grants for Marriage, Children and Bereavement Counselling in 2009. Over €3.5 million is being allocated to 560 voluntary and community groups nationwide which provide a wide range of marriage, child and bereavement counselling services and supports. 

This round of grants brings the total funding for marriage, child and bereavement counselling services in 2010 to a total of over €11.4 million. Earlier this month, Minister Ó Cuív announced multi-annual funding for 29 major organisations of over €7.8 million. This will enable groups involved in counselling to help men, women and children through traumatic events and times in their families’ lives.

Grants are also being paid to suicide support groups, child counselling groups, women’s and men’s support groups as well as groups providing marriage preparation and marriage counselling.

Deputy Wallace stated “Groups involved in counselling offer a much needed service to people who are going through a period of stress or trauma in their lives. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the volunteers in these organisations for their efforts in delivering these very worthwhile services in our community”

The grants to organisations dealing with marriage and relationships also helps fund marriage preparation courses for couples planning to marry as well as support for families dealing with relationship breakdown.

“I am pleased that these groups particularly Bethany Dunboyne and Rainbows in Ashbourne, and Ratoath will benefit from these grants.” She concluded

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