Veterans' Charity Sees Increased Demand For Help & Support

Friday, 17 February 2023 10:14

By Caoimhe Harney

The charity ONE says it provides over 18,500 bed nights a year to veterans

A charity offering housing and other supports to veterans of the Defence Forces has seen an increase in demand for its services amid the rising cost of living.

Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann (ONE), which says it has helped more than 1,000 veterans out of homelessness, say former troops of all ages are now seeking their services.

Cormac Kirwan, CEO, has said two out of the four residential units run by ONE are completely full.

Brú Na Bfhiann - the home of the brave - in Dublin is one of the four, alongside services in Letterkenny, Athlone and Cobh.

Speaking on Kfm, Mr. Kirwan said there is a variety of reasons linked to serving in the Defence Forces which results in some personnel finding themselves in difficulty.

ONE says it provides over 18,500 bed nights a year to veterans and has helped more than a thousand of them out of homelessness.

Kildare South TD and Former Army Rangber Cathal Berry told the Tánaiste that there are 62 vacant houses in Curragh Camp, a situation he described as unconscionable.

He said there has to be a change in policy in the Department of Defence to accommodate military families on military premises.

He called on the minister to give a direction to renovate the vacant houses and allocate them to military families take pressure off the local rental market.

Mr Berry said the move would fix housing, rural dereliction and help to solve the retention crisis in the Defence Forces.

ONE launched a unique fundraiser on Thursday in the window of a pop up shop on Dublin's Grafton Street, they have erected a display of camouflage gear embedded with a QR code to encourage donations towards their work.

The Defence Forces says it unwavering in its support for recognised Veterans Associations.

Cormac Kirwan,CEO, Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann (ONE) spoke with Eoin Beatty on Kildare Today: