Navan Meals-on-Wheels 'lifeline’ under threat from HSE cuts

The Navan Meals-on-Wheels service, which provides a vital lifeline to many elderly residents in the area, is under threat from lack of funding as the HSE has slashed its funding by 50 per cent. An appeal to the public to support the service's fundraising flag day this weekend has been made by Navan clergy and parish Administrator, Fr Declan Hurley, has called on the HSE to be realistic and take its obligations seriously. “It doesn't make sense to reduce funding when there is an increased demand,†he said. Fr Hurley pointed out that the HSE is reducing services to home-based elderly, which means an even greater demand on the Navan Meals-on-Wheels service. “The HSE is fortunate that the Navan parish maintains this service,†he pointed out. Fr Hurley urged the people of Navan to support the collection which takes place tomorrow (Thursday), Friday and Saturday in the Navan and Johnstown Shopping Centres. “In the current economic climate, it is time for communities to come together and show solidarity with those less priveleged,†he added. He acknowledged the enormous generosity of the people of Navan, both corporate and individuals, in the past and hoped they would continue this generosity. Navan Meals-on-Wheels provides a hot meal for between 80 and 90 people within roughly a three-mile radius of the town, six days a week. While funding from the HSE has been cut, the service is coming under increased pressure to take on more clients because of cutbacks in HSE-funded home helps. Rose Mulligan explained that they have three full-time staff and two part-time, while five voluntary drivers deliver the meals around Navan each day - during the recent icy weather, Meath River Rescue stepped in to help deliver the meals as the volunteer drivers were unable to negotiate some of the roads around Navan. In addition to those who have meals delivered, a further 20 come into the Meals-on-Wheels premises at the Navan Parochial Centre each day. Rose Mulligan said that, as well as providing hot meals to their clients, for many of those who are housebound, the visit from the Meals-on-Wheels driver may be the only social contact they have. “There are some people who see nobody all day, apart from the Meals-on-Wheels driver,†she added. Many of their clients are long-term, while some just avail of the service while recovering after a hospital visit. “It is an essential service providing hot meals and social contact to so many people. We are relying on the goodwill of the people of Navan and on public contributions to keep the service going,†said Ms Mulligan. She pointed out that while it was hard to find the money in the past, it was going to be more difficult now as people don't have the money to give. She paid tribute to Navan Rotary and Navan Lions which have been very generous to the service, and she appealed to the public to support this week's collection.