REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE AT THE FORMAL OPENING OF THE WORKLINK CENTRE
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE AT THE FORMAL OPENING OF THE WORKLINK CENTRE LETTERKENNY CO. DONEGAL MONDAY 2 NOVEMBER 1998
Firstly, let me say how delighted I am to be back in Letterkenny again, and to have this opportunity to join you for this special day – a day when we formally designate these premises as The Worklink Centre in Letterkenny – and a day when you can reflect on what you have achieved since this was only a pilot project. I also want to avail of this opportunity to pay tribute to the tremendous effort that has gone into making the Centre a reality – to the many people who have given dedicated and committed service to bringing this about – and to the statutory and voluntary organisations who have worked with you on the project.
As the second Worklink Centre in County Donegal, catering for the largeley urban population of the Letterkenny area – this centre joins with the one in Moville which has a mainly rural hinterland – and extends the service to a wider population in County Donegal. The Schizophrenia Association of Ireland have already established a Worklink Centre in Dublin and have used the experience gained from that to help SAI Donegal to establish this centre. I want to commend the SAI for their work in addressing the unique needs of Schizophrenia sufferers – and for their continuing work to make it possible for people with mental illness to play a fuller role in society through the provision of education, training and support services.
I know that this project has involved the support of others and that considerable funding for the centre has been forthcoming from the European Regional Development Fund, administered by the North Western Health Board. The day to day running of the centre is being facilitated with assistance from the European Social Fund through the National Rehabilitation Board – and further material support and assistance is being given by Donegal Psychiatric Services and the Mental Health Association. So this is really a partnership of voluntary and statutory agencies and bodies – with assistance from our European neighbours in the form of funding.
It is yet another example of how locally based partnerships working with a broad range of service and funding providers can focus resources precisely where they are required – meeting the needs of the community as the people of the community see them – and thereby ensuring that the services provided will respond to changing needs and requirements as society changes and the economy grows. The real strength of locally based partnerships is that ability to change – and to continually critique what they are doing for the clients who avail of their services – so that their response is always sensitive to changing circumstances and conditions.
The more enlightened trend to the treatment of mental illness has seen a more community-based approach. Throughout Ireland the Health agencies are working with many local voluntary groups such as yourselves to deliver a more effective service to sufferers – and to allow them to remain within their own homes and communities – thereby making it possible to play an active part in their own community and to strive for a level of self-sufficiency that will permit that to happen. That is a very positive trend and one which requires a greater level of awareness by the general public and by employers. Through your work at this centre and at the Moville centre – where a Support Worker has been appointed – and where a feasibility study for an Independent Living Programme has been undertaken – will serve to push out the boundaries of support and treatment for sufferers and their families – and encouraging a great degree of independence.
In formally declaring the centre open, I want to wish you well in your work for mental illness sufferers in County Donegal – as you continue to broaden your horizons and increase the level of service that you give to those who can make a very positive contribution to their communities. You have achieved much and you have gained knowledge and strength in the achieving. I hope that future years will continue to bring you success in your invaluable work.