A senior manager at the St John of God charity has said the organisation has been battling a €27 million funding deficit for six years and without additional funding the organisation's board has decided it can no longer run its extensive network of disability and mental health services.
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Sean O'Rourke, St John of God Community Services chief executive Clare Dempsey said the shortfall has been ongoing for a number of years and it has "engaged extensively" with the Health Service Executive, which funds it.
The charity provides services and care to over 8,000 children and adults with a disability or mental illness in counties Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow, Meath, Louth, Monaghan and Kerry.
Without the necessary additional funding, Ms Dempsey said the board has "no option but to serve 12 months notice" to the HSE to end the running of the service.
She said the current deficits arise from underfunding over many years and cutbacks as well as additional costs related to the increased regulation of residential services for people with intellectual disabilities.
Ms Dempsey said she hopes that the required level of funding is made available to continue to deliver services and expressed her concerns for the families, clients and staff at the organisation.
The St John of God charity has 2,500 staff and 500 volunteers.
