Rainbow Club hopes to secure Mahon premises

THE co-founder of a Cork charity which provides a lifeline to families living with autism has welcomed news it will soon have a chance to express an interest in a new premises.

The Rainbow Club has been seeking a new home for several years.

Karen O’Mahony, co-founder of the Rainbow Club, was responding to news that Disabilities Minister Ann Rabbitte had confirmed in the Dáil this week that a Mahon premises, which previously belonged to the HSE, will be signed over to Cork City Council.

Once the premises is handed over, the local authority is expected to seek expressions of interest from community and charity groups.

Ms O’Mahony told The Echo that all at the charity were delighted at the news.

“For us, it would be an absolutely amazing opportunity to put in an expression of interest in this site. It would have a really positive impact on us from a funding perspective if we were able to secure a premises, as we would have a lease of our own and therefore we would be able to access funding opportunities.

“We are an equal opportunities employer, supporting a neuro-diverse community, and at least 50% of the people we employ are from the Mahon and Blackrock area,” she said.

Ms Rabbitte told The Echo she was happy that the former HSE property in Mahon was being signed over to Cork City Council, and expressed her hope that the council would make the building available to “a community-led initiative of need in the Mahon area”.

Pádraig O’Sullivan, Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North Central, said he was hopeful that, pending a public consultation, “someone like the Rainbow Club” would be the beneficiary.

Ms Rabbitte said that, should the Rainbow Club be successful, she would make capital funding available for the refit of the premises.