Work to start within days on Galway suicide crisis centre
A contractor has been appointed and work is expected to commence on the provision of the first suicide and self harm crisis centre in the West of Ireland within days. It is hoped that it will be open in September at the latest.
This follows the granting of planning permission at the end of last year for the establishment of a Pieta House in Tuam.
It has been confirmed by The Connacht Tribune that the tendering process has been completed and a contractor has been appointed for the works, which will cost in the region of €200,000.
The Pieta House campaign group have acquired a house in Tuam which will now be renovated and opened in three months time. The project will also involve a lot of voluntary labour.
Major fundraising initiatives have been taking place across Galway, Mayo and Roscommon over the past couple of years to make this happen.
But a leading suicide awareness campaigner has urged those involved in Pieta House to provide a round the clock service at its Tuam base.
It is intended to open the self harm crisis centre from 8am to 8pm but Cllr Pete Roche, who lost a son through suicide, said that the vast majority of incidents took place at night and believed that a 24 hour service should be provided.
Cllr Roche, who is also an ambassador for Console, said that he welcomed the new facility in Tuam but believed that it should be staffed on a round the clock basis to provide a comprehensive service to those contemplating suicide.
Tuam businessman John Concannon, who is the main driving force behind the establishment of a Pieta House in Tuam, said that the tendering process took longer than anticipated but works were ready to start.
He estimated that it would cost in the region of a quarter of a million euro to operate the service each year and it would be providing employment for around 25 staff when up and running.
Last year Galway County Council granted planning permission for the West’s first ever Pieta House which will be located on the Dunmore Road out of Tuam.
And a commitment was given from dozens of unemployed contractors who were ready and waiting to renovate the house and were willing to give their time free of charge to help establish such a facility in the area.
Mr Concannon said that it would initially be open five days a week but it was hoped that the service would be extended to six days in time.
The campaign to open a Pieta House in Tuam began more than two years ago and during that period over €250,000 was raised through a whole variety of events.
This has allowed the campaigners to open the self harm centre although the promise of a grant of €200,000 from the Government failed to materialise.