FORMER Mayor and Sinn Féin Assembly Candidate Elisha McCallion has said despite some negative commentary circulating regarding the future of Foyle Haven day centre for adults with acute addiction issues its immediate future is secure.
Councillor McCallion said: “During my term as Mayor I took particular interest in issues around addiction and people in crisis. One of those projects was the Foyle Haven which was at that time experiencing funding problems.
“I established a working group to assess the situation and seek funding that would secure its future.
“We were successful in securing a rescue package at that time and since then I have continued to meet with the working group to look at sustainability.
“Funding is currently in place and secure until June 2017 and we have a number of active applications which are pending decisions and I am confident that come June funding wil continue.
“I met with CEO of De Paul Ireland who operate Foyle Haven just last Friday and she is happy with the progress to date and has assured me that she will continue to assist the working group in securing the long-term future of the facility.
“The Working Group will meet again in the coming weeks to plan a sustainable way forward.
“It is unhelpful and creates anxiety for those who use the facility when rumour is presented as fact and I would ask anyone with the best interests of this facility at heart to work positively for its future and refrain from uninformed negative comment.
“At every stage of this process staff have been kept informed and from my contact with them are happy with the progress being delivered by the Working Group.”
