DFI facilitates meeting between the HSE and organisations in operation under the ethos of Centres for Independent Living across Ireland

DFI facilitated a meeting between the HSE and those organisations in operation under the ethos of Centres for Independent Living, CILs across the country,  in Galway on Tuesday 15 August 2023. 

The meeting was attended by Brian J. Higgins, Assistant National Director: HSE Change Planning and Delivery – Disability and Mental Health Services and Marie Kehoe-O'Sullivan, HSE National Disability Specialist Quality Improvement, along with 15 CILs.

Both Brian and Marie were keen to meet with CILs and to learn more about the nature of personal assistance, PA services provided by the CILs, thereby gaining insight to the history of the Independent Living Movement which has it’s origins in CILs throughout the country. Pat Beirne, DFI’s newly nominated member organisation representative to the HSE PA Review Group and CEO with Cork CIL chaired the proceedings. Presentations were delivered by Rosaleen Doherty, CEO with Donegal CIL and John Mc Donald Co Manager with Waterford CIL with key insights from staff and service users throughout the meeting.

This was a valuable opportunity for DFI to facilitate the CILs to come together in person and to highlight to the HSE the importance of the role of CIL’s and the integrity of the Independent Living ethos and practice within service delivery in Ireland today.

DFI will continue to support such collaboration of CILs.  DFI will also continue to support all our members input to health advocacy around PA services, through the DFI PA Advisory Group which meets next on 11 September. For more information email DFI's Cathy McGrath. 

Photo caption: 

Back row left to right: Brian Higgins, HSE; Mary Delaney, Offaly Centre for Independent Living; Maria Mulligan, Sligo Centre for Independent Living; Karen McPartland, Leitrim Association of People with Disabilities; Pat Beirne, Cork Centre for Independent Living; and, Marie Kehoe-O’Sullivan, HSE. 

Front row left to right: Elaine Hanly, County Roscommon Disability Support Group (RSG); Joan Dowd, RSG; Philip Hendrick, Galway Centre for Independent Living; Rosaleen Doherty, Donegal Centre for Independent Living; and, Margaret O'Brien, West Limerick Independent Living.

ENDS