Date: 12 Aug 2025
Minister O’Connor visits and launches Healthy Communities Projects across Donegal
Minister for Public Health, Well Being and the National Drugs Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O'Connor TD visited Donegal on Friday 8th August, for a number of launches and engagements at four Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme funded projects across the Municipal Districts of Inishowen, Letterkenny/Milford and Glenties.
The Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme has two target areas for delivery in Donegal, namely the Inishowen peninsula and the Northwest Gaeltacht with the overarching aim of the programme being is to reduce health inequalities by addressing the wider social determinants of health in communities experiencing high levels of deprivation.
The Minister began the day in Inishowen, welcomed by fellow Minister Charlie McConologue where she officially opened the Inclusive Outdoor Recreational Running and Walking Track at St. Mura’s National School, Tieveban. The delivery of the 300 metre multi-purpose Running and Walking Track is a partnership project between local community groups and the school, working together to improve the health, wellbeing and safety of the community, with funding of €25,000 allocated under the Sláintecare Healthy communities Programme.
The Minister’s next stop was to Letterkenny where she met the staff, volunteers and community members of the Local Youth and Family Services group where the Minister heard of the great work being completed by the group under the “Its Our Chance” scheme, a mental health and wellbeing programme for young people aged 16-25yrs funded under Slaintecare.
The Minister then moved west to visit the facilities and services on offer at Ionad Naomh Pádraig Dobha in Bunbeg, where she was informed of the groups use of Sláintecare funds to provide play therapy supports, group play therapy, mental health awareness support groups, music classes, physical activity and healthy eating programmes. The Minister also acknowledged the groups huge voluntary support offered to Cancer patients across the county in terms of transport to appointments through car pick-ups and subsidized flights to Dublin.
The Minister’s final visit of her day in Donegal was to Anagaire and the Scioból an Phobail group where the Minister officially launched the Inclusive Cycling Initiative, a partnership between the Donegal County Council, Scioból an Phobail, GrassRoutes based in An Tearmann and Gaoth Beara Bike Rental. The project was developed by the Donegal County Council Access Officer Trudi O’Reilly in partnership with local community stakeholders to provide inclusive bicycles, allowing people with limited mobility the opportunity to experience cycling.
Commenting on the visit to Donegal, Minister Jennifer Murnane O’ Connor, TD, said that “it is clear to see that the Sláintecare Healthy Communities programme is having a positive effect on local communities throughout Donegal. Community engagement and participation is the corner stone for the successful implementation of any project and both of those elements have been in abundance here today”.
Mr. Liam Ward, Deputy Chief Executive of Donegal County Council and Director of Service said “This is an Innovative partnership between the Donegal County Council and the Department of Health with a joint purpose and focus to improve the wellbeing of people living in both Inishowen and the North West Gaeltacht. Today we were able to showcase to the Minister how this partnership has benefitted those communities most in need within these respective areas and we thank the Minister for taking the time to visit the county”.
The Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme is funded by the Department of Health and administered by Donegal County Council on behalf of the Donegal LCDC and is an interagency plan to improve the health and wellbeing of some of the most disadvantaged areas of society.
