Ministers welcome impact for disabled people with opening of two new residential centres in Galway
- Published on: 22 October 2025
- Last updated on: 22 October 2025
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, together with Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Hildegarde Naughton, are in Galway today to visit a variety of disability-related services and projects.
The day will begin with the opening of Corrib Lodge, Resilience Healthcare’s newest children’s residential service in Galway.
This new centre will provide a Home from Home, high support, residential service for children and young people with an autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disabilities and physical & sensory needs.
The services provided by the Centre include residential care provision for a maximum of 6 children or young people between the ages of six and eighteen years of age, with comprehensive transitioning and preparation for adulthood commencing at seventeen years of age.
Later, both Ministers will attend the official opening of Ability West’s newest state-of-the-art Day and Residential Services at Garraí na Sailí, Letteragh Road, Galway.
The new services include a 3,500 sq. ft. Day Service Centre for up to 25 people and a fully accessible residential bungalow purpose-built for four individuals requiring enhanced support and medical care. There are also three standalone apartments, offering supported independent living for people with intellectual disabilities.
Ministers Foley and Naughton will also visit a variety of other disability organisations in Galway city. This includes BOSCI Cara which provides warm and welcoming day services for disabled people at Brooklawn House. They also will have lunch at Café Link, a social enterprise in Shantalla providing inclusive employment opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities as well as catering skills training and day services. Café Link currently employ sixteen staff with an intellectual disability with a further fourteen trainees at their culinary skills training centre.
After lunch, the Ministers will witness the talent and creativity on display at Arts Alive, a non-profit community-based arts programme in Galway’s West End, run by the Brothers of Charity. The day will be rounded off by visits to Galway Autism, a community-based charity providing services & support to autistic people and their families, and Enable Ireland Galway which provides both adult services and services to children with complex needs.
Minister Foley said:
“I am delighted to be in Galway today, witnessing first-hand the wide breadth of vital services being provided to disabled people, funded by my Department. I am honoured to open two new services at Corrib Lodge and Ability West, and to meet personally with all those who will deliver the services and benefit from them.
As Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, I am very much aware of the importance of these services for the families of both children and adults with disabilities and the positive impact it can have on people’s lives. I am also aware that there is high demand for disability services, and that is why I am so pleased that in Budget 2026, a record €3.8billion has been secured for disability services, showing a government commitment to the expansion of services to meet the needs of people with disabilities.”
Minister Naughton added:
“As Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, but also as a local TD, I am proud to see how disability funding is being used to support wonderful new services around Galway to improve the lived experience of people with disabilities. When this government took office last January, we promised a step change in the delivery of supports and services for people with disabilities and their families. The launch of the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People last month, as well as record investment in disability services in Budget 2026, show our commitment to this goal. I look forward to continued progress and making real change a reality for disabled people in Galway and across Ireland.”
Notes to editors
Corrib Lodge
Corrib Lodge is situated close to Carnmore and to Galway City. The house itself is in a quiet location, set back from the main road. The house is decorated and furnished to a very high standard, modern style that promotes independence, comfort and relaxation. Corrib Lodge is set in a tranquil area on a mature site.
Corrib Lodge is a spacious bright home consisting of two bedrooms upstairs and one apartment upstairs, two apartments’ downstairs and one standalone apartment out the back of the premises separate to the main house.
The house is set back on a side road and has an enclosed back garden and front garden with gates.
About Resilience Ireland
Resilience Healthcare Limited is a private healthcare company, providing advanced community care and social care services for children and adults with Autism and/or Intellectual Disabilities, Prader Willi Syndrome and people with physical disabilities.
- Services provided include:
Ø Support for children and adults across residential services, which comprise of full time and shared care services,
Ø A contract with the HSE to deliver day services in line with New Directions.
Ø After school services and outreach for children
Ø Developing supported living services for young adults,
Ø Home nursing and community services for children and adults with complex medical needs through Advanced Community Care Division.
Resilience Healthcare provides services in both Disability and Primary Care in all 9 Community Healthcare Areas and is the Registered Provider for approximately 26 disability residential centres across Ireland.
About Ability West
Ability West provides a wide range of disability support services to people with complex intellectual, physical and multiple disabilities. Ability West was founded 63 years ago, by families who wanted better support for their children with intellectual disabilities and comorbidities. Over 600 children and adults avail of their services and the organisation operates more than 70 centres located across Galway City and County.
Ability West is also patron of four special schools St. Joseph’s Special School, Galway City, Tigh Nan Dooley, Carraroe, St. Oliver’s Special School, Tuam, and St. Teresa’s Special School, Ballinasloe.
Today, Ability West employs more than 630 people across Galway City & County.