Shock as vital Offaly HOMEFIX is set to close

HOMEFIX, a community-based service providing minor home repairs for those over 65, is no longer financially sustainable, according to its Board of Directors a decision that has sparked dismay across Offaly County Council.

Speaking at the monthly council meeting, Councillor Audrey Hennessy Kennedy said she was ''shocked'' when she received the call informing her of the closure.

''It’s something important that we need to look at and we need to call on our three local TDs to address this issue,'' she said.

''The service gave a helping hand to older people across West and South Offaly. They’re now struggling to stay afloat, to keep people employed and the service going.''

Cathaoirleach John Leahy echoed the concern, describing HOMEFIX as a critical support for older residents.

''They had two vans on the road and a number of paid employees, with state support covering up to 70%. It made a real difference,'' he said.

Councillor Peter Ormond added that he had received the same call.

''It is a valuable service with people who took care of small jobs like painting, replacing tiles or moving furniture. They have provided an excellent service and have excellent staff.''

But the organisation faced growing limitations. Staff were sourced from a specific labour cohort. These constraints, combined with dwindling funding, made it unfeasible to continue.

''The Directors met, and the bottom line was, they had no choice but to cease operations,'' Cllr Ormond said.

''This service helped people from Moneygall to Doon to Kilcormac. We can’t afford to lose it. We should write to the Minister for Older People to see if there's another funding model out there.''

Councillor Fergus McDonnell, who formerly sat on the board of a similar organisation, wasn't surprised by the news, but was deeply disappointed.

''The funding structure has always been stacked against the social economy. I was that soldier, doing Church Gate collections and backpack drives just to keep things going,'' he said.

''You’re pulling workers from a CE scheme doing 19.5 hours a week, and you’re expected to work your you-know-what off to make up the shortfall. It’s been a joke the way it’s been funded by successive governments.''

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He also criticised the move away from grant aid toward footfall-based performance targets:

''If you projected footfall and didn’t hit it, you were reprimanded. The whole model changedand not for the better. There needs to be a radical overhaul of how these services are supported.''

The council agreed to request Cllr Hennessy Kennedy contact Offaly’s three TDs and meet with them alongside Cllr Ormond to explore any chance of saving or replacing the service.

Meanwhile, 

Meanwhile, a statement from Offaly Local Development Company (OLDC) said the Board of Management is disappointed that the difficult decision has been made to wind up the service provided by West and South Offaly Community Network known as Homefix.

''Homefix is a separate legal company from OLDC and OLDC has no oversight or responsibility for

the day-to-day operations of Homefix. The decision of Homefix to wind up was a decision they made alone.''

Continuing the statement says: ''Homefix, as a Company Limited by Guarantee is bound to run its business in a sustainable and proper manner, a fact that OLDC fully recognises and respects. OLDC is acutely aware of the critical needs being met by Homefix and commits to working with relevant government and statutory bodies, and other stakeholders, to assist with the provision of a sustainable replacement service for those who need it most.''