Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 May 2026
733. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps she is taking to ensure the survival of an organisation (details supplied) and the vital services, funded by her Department. [31834/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraHaving delivered important services to the local Traveller community over many years, the organisation in question encountered significant difficulties in late 2025/early 2026. Its Board notified its public funders in February 2026 that a resolution had been passed to place the company into voluntary liquidation on the grounds of insolvency. On 3 March 2026, the Board confirmed that all operations had ceased and that it was engaging with a proposed liquidator.
The main public funding organisations are the Health Service Executive (HSE), the relevant Education and Training Board and the Department of Social Protection, with an allocation also coming from the Department of Children, Disability and Equality to coordinate and support front line service delivery.
Prior to these developments, concerns had been raised regarding governance and financial matters arising at the organisation in the past year. In October 2025, the public funders, the local Education and Training Board, the HSE, the Department of Social Protection and this Department, commissioned an independent finance and governance review. The review was primarily focused on the period 2024-2025. Funding of the organisation was continued so that services to the local Traveller community could remain in place while the review was underway.
However, in light of the Board’s communications in February and early March, the remaining steps to enable the review to be brought to finalisation could not be progressed.
In a statement on 21 April, the Board has advised that it is currently progressing the appointment of a liquidator to place the organisation into formal liquidation. It is assumed in this regard that all steps will be taken in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act.
The matter is being kept under close review by the State funders as the necessary legal and financial steps that must be taken by the Board are progressed. During this time, to support Traveller families in the area continuing to access services, the funders are actively working to ensure flexibility, where possible, in their response to the delivery of the services that were previously provided by the organisation.
The Government remains fully committed to Traveller and Roma inclusion and to the promotion of equality, participation and access to services across all areas of Irish society. Strong, well-run community organisations are central to this work, and the situation continues to be kept under review by the relevant public funders with a focus on supporting affected Traveller families.
