The Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) welcomed members of the Laois Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) to its service centre on the St Fintan’s Hospital Campus, Portlaoise recently.
The visit highlighted the strong and growing collaboration between the IWA, Laois County Council, and local community partners.
The Laois LCDC, established in July 2014 in line with national policy, is comprised of representatives from Laois County Council, state agencies, and social and economic partners.
Supported by the Community Development section of Laois County Council, the committee plays a key role in coordinating community funding, advancing local projects, and promoting
meaningful engagement across the county.
IWA Service Co-ordinator Sylvia Rouget warmly welcomed the visiting LCDC members, including Mr. Michael Rainey, Chief Executive, Laois County Council, Cllr John King, Cllr Paschal McEvoy, Mr. Brian Brennan, and Mr. Pat Whelan, IWA staff member and service user in addition to his LCDC role.
Also in attendance were Emma O’Connor, Healthy Laois Co-ordinator, Georgina Ireland, Chief Officer with Laois LCDC and Elaine Duff, Laois County Council.
The visit commenced with an uplifting banjo performance by Aidan McFall, setting a positive tone for the day.
Guests then toured the centre’s Accessible Gym, a project funded by the Sport Ireland Dormant Account Capital Fund (2023).
The gym has recently expanded with a new accessible treadmill funded through the LEP Grant Scheme and is widely used by service members from Laois and surrounding counties.
The IWA acknowledged the ongoing support of Catriona Slattery, Disability Officer with Laois Sports Partnership, as well as the valuable Healthy Laois funded cooking and nutrition classes, which continue to enhance the holistic supports available to service users.
Speaking at the event, Sylvia Rouget, Service Manager at the IWA, emphasised the importance of community partnerships.
“This facility has widened the range of services provided to our users. We are proud to share not only our facilities, but our expertise, learning, time, and efforts with our community partners.”
Mr Michael Rainey, Chief Executive of Laois County Council said:
“I was delighted to be part of the visit to the Irish Wheelchair Association facility in Portlaoise to see first-hand the incredible work they do to empower people with disabilities across Laois and beyond.
“Their commitment to inclusion, independence, and community support is truly inspiring.
“As a local authority, we are proud to collaborate with organisations like the IWA to ensure that accessibility and equality remain at the heart of our services.”
Laois LCDC would like to extend their thanks to Sylvia Rouget and her team and look forward to future collaborations.
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