Press release
Minister Rabbitte announces funding for Continence Clinic at Crann Centre, Cork
From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Published on
Last updated on
Minister of State for Disability, Anne Rabbitte, is delighted to announce funding for a specialist community continence clinic in Ovens, Co Cork.
Minister Rabbitte announced the funding during a visit to Cork today, Monday. Funding of €170,000 is being provided to the Crann Centre, which operates the clinic now funded by the HSE, and who provide a range of supports to children, adults and families living with a neuro-physical disability.
This includes people with Spina Bifida, Hydrocephalus, Muscular Dystrophy, Cerebral Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Childhood Stroke or Spinal Cord Injury. This specialist community continence clinic will be accessible to children on Children’s Disability Network Teams (CDNTs) in the Cork Kerry Community Healthcare area.
Minister Rabbitte said:
“I am very pleased to be able to support the expansion of the clinic at the Crann Centre, which I know already helps a number of families in the area. Having visited the Crann Centre previously, I have seen first-hand how it is an example of one of the many great pioneering voluntary services around the country that make such an important contribution to the lives of people with disabilities.
“Parents have spoken about how invaluable this service is for their children, and the difference it makes to their families. When I hear this, I think it’s important to show support such programmes so we can have more specialist services being accessible in the community rather than in a clinical setting. This, in turn, can reduce the pressures that would otherwise be on the clinical services.
“This funding for Continence Clinic makes life easier for families and I hope that this service will also lead to better physical health, independence and quality of life for many."
The Crann Centre (established 2014) is a registered charity based in Ovens Co Cork. They support children, adults and families living with a neuro-physical disability. Their services are focused on, but not limited to, people with Spina Bifida, Hydrocephalus, Muscular Dystrophy, Cerebral Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Childhood Stroke or Spinal Cord Injury.
Their services and supports are delivered through six key themes which can target one aspect of health & wellbeing or support a broad range of needs. Their Model of Care (based on the Ascend/Aspen Institute 2-Generation Approach) places the family at the Centre of a range of services and supports where services are delivered to each family member they believe if they support the family, they indirectly also support the person with the disability too.
Under NSP 2023, funding of €170,000 has been allocated to the centre which Cork Kerry Community Healthcare are administering via a Grant Aid Agreement. This specialist community continence clinic will be accessible to children on our Children’s Disability Network Teams (CDNTs). We look forward to working with Crann Centre and there will be on going engagement and evaluation of service and key performance metrics under the Grant Aid Agreement process.