IWA gratitude forhelp in purchaseof new minibus
Image 1 of 3
Martin Whelehan, Stefan Sgueglia, Billy Masterson, Micheál Dalton, Noel Byrne, Richard Ross, Philip Kirby, Minister Peter Burke, Isa Lukunku, Lila McClean, Catherine McNyler, Mary Brennan, Maureen Carroll, Brendan McGovern, Anita Murray, Ciara O’Brien, Gina Curran, Sean Whelan, Jamie McDarby and Rosemary Rice at the ribbon cutting for the new bus. TOP OF PAGE: Billy Masterson (retired driver and programme assistant) Sean Whelan (IWA national development officer) and Noel Byrne on the trishaw.Image 2 of 3
Billy Masterson (retired driver and program assistant) Sean Whelan (IWA national development officer) and Noel Byrne on the trishaw.Image 3 of 3
RIGHT: Philip Kirby with Anita Murray last Tuesday morning.Without transport, the Irish Wheelchair Association would have no service, one of the members said when they presented their new minibus to the public last week.
The team at the Springfield base in Mullingar hosted a small event to launch the new bus, and had invited the local ministers among other guests.
They were especially grateful to Minister Peter Burke and Minister of State Robert Troy for their assistance in securing CLÁR funding towards the cost of the bus.
Minister Peter Burke was present (illness prevented Minister Troy attending) and he acknowledged the hard work that goes into securing funding for organisations such as the IWA.
“I really want to commend the work the Irish Wheelchair Association do here locally at Springfield Centre,” he said. “A lot of work goes in to protect the most vulnerable in society and I think this is a key example of how government really need to step up to the mark to provide funding for key pieces of infrastructure that make their lives a little better, and the wheelchair bus is one example of that.”
Thanking the ministers for being instrumental in the process of securing the CLÁR funding for the new bus, IWA service coordinator Jaime McDarby said the organisation is unique in that transport is vital to what they aim to do: without transportation, they would have no service, he said.
He also emphasised how it is important to keep health and safety up to standard for members, which is why a new bus is vital.
“Without the buses, the members wouldn’t be able to get in here. We go out, we pick them up, and then we also do trips, and we bring them home. So, it is a lifeline for a lot of members here,” he said.
Jaime went on to highlight how the IWA is not only for wheelchair users, and it can be of use to anyone who has Parkinson’s, motor neuron disease, MS, if they are blind, deaf or if they have had a stroke. Anyone with physical or sensory disabilities is able to use IWA services.
The goal is to grow the service and offer it to as many people as they can.
Along with the CLÁR funding, the IWA said they also received public donations and raised €16,000 that went towards the purchase of the new bus.
Former employee and now volunteer Rosemary Rice said: “People were very good and very generous and it is like all things, whether people gave €25 or €500, it all added up over the years.
“It has made a huge difference. So, we have to thank everybody. Everybody’s contribution was vitally important.”