Despite dire warnings by a Limerick councillor today about the imminent closure of the LGBT Helpline, the organisation is set to remain open, following a funding reprieve.

Fianna Fáil TD Niall Collins told The Limerick Leader that funding, which is provided by Pobal and the HSE, is set to dry up within 5 days.

“It has recently come to my attention that the Helpline is facing closure due to problems it is experiencing in securing funding,” said Collins. “This is a deeply unfortunate situation and I believe the Government needs to step in to allow the service to continue to operate in the months ahead.”

“The LGBT Helpline is an important service and every effort should be made to allow it to continue operating. The Government needs to do the decent thing and intervene in this situation.”

In a brief phone conversation with GCN this morning, LGBT Helpline National Coordinator Paula Fagan confirmed that the service has secured “bridging funding” from POBAL and so, will operate as normal.

“I can confirm that the LGBT Helpline has secured bridging funding from Pobal and our services will remain operating as normal as we work with them to finalise to transition the existing funding agreement to the new the entity established by the LGBT Helpline to run the service.”

LGBT Helpline listens in confidence and without judgement, seven days a week. Contact them by phone 1890 929 539, or online through their instant messaging service or by coming along to one of their peer support groups.