A Section 39 application for permanent annual funding for the Circle of Friends Cancer Support Centre in Tipperary town has been submitted to the HSE. This funding is provided to Community, Voluntary & Not for Profit Agencies under Section 39 of the Health Act, 2004 to deliver health and social care services. The Centre, located in state of the art facility at Knockanrawley provided support for 1,197 people in 2022. This number is expected to double in 2023. The centre was inspired by Jennifer Jones Hickey based on her experiences in the Girls Club in Cork while undergoing cancer treatment and began operating in December 2013 at the Station house on Station road Tipperary town.
The funding application is seeking a sum of almost €100,000 to cover staff costs, an outreach worker and counselling therapies. Minister Mary Butler offered her full support for the application when it was raised in the Dáil earlier today. Deputy Cahill says the facility needs to have a stable source of income to plan it’s programmes for a catchment population of 76,000 people. Minister Butler encouraged the board of management to continue to engage with the HSE locally and says she is very hopeful the application will succeed as the evidence demonstrates that people benefit from the services provided.
