# Irish government turns to charities for help

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/09/16/irish-government-turns-charities-help/
- Published: 2009-09-16T08:47:26+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

The Irish government’s decision to accept money from charity has led to criticism
from a leading charity director. Tony Geoghegan, director of Merchants Quay Ireland,
which works with drug addicts, said such support could not be sustained and was 
not the way to fund long term drug programmes.

 

The Irish government’s severe budget crisis has led it to seek and accept funding
from the Irish Cancer Society and Elton John Foundation.

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Mr Geoghegan was critical of the Government’s decision to seek money from Elton 
John’s charity to fund a national needle exchange service. The service will receive
€750,000 in funding over three years.

 

“What’s going to happen if the Elton John Foundation pulls out after the three-year
period?” he asks, and says it sends out mixed signals about the determination to
tackle drug problems in the State.

 

During the summer the Irish Cancer Society announced details of their offer of €
1 million over two years to the Government towards the rollout of a national bowel
cancer screening programme, for all men and women aged 55 – 74 years living in Ireland.
ICS indicated that more funding for the programme would be available if fundraising
was successful.

 

“The decision by the Board of the Irish Cancer Society to offer funding towards 
the cost of the initial rollout of a screening programme is a significant new step
for the Society. We would rather not have to make this offer, but on this occasion
we believe that we have no choice. We believe that unless there is a clear driving
force, it is easier for the Government, especially in the current climate not to
do anything.

 

“We also hold the view that we have a duty of care to the people of Ireland to drive
the rollout of this programme, which will be one of the most effective public health
interventions in the history of the Irish healthcare system,” said Bill McCabe, 
Chairman Irish Cancer.

 

www.cancer.ie

 

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