Updated 12.30
MARRIAGE AND RELATIONSHIP counselling service Relationships Ireland has ceased operations and will begin the process of winding up the company.
The board of Marriage and Relationships Counselling Services took the decision yesterday and has said that legal process will begin today.
Eighteen employees have been made redundant and the contracts with a further eight counsellors have been terminated. Redundancy benefits will be paid to those affected by the decision.
Board members of the company serve on a voluntary basis.
In a statement, the directors of the company have said the decision was made because the organisation “could no longer maintain solvency in light of a challenged funding environment and increased operational costs”.
While those challenges have been visible for some time now, and the board has been working hard to find a basis to overcome them, matters were brought to a head in recent weeks when it became clear that a further increase in operating costs was unavoidable on foot of an upward only rent review on the RI premises.
The statement from Relationships Ireland is currently the only information available on its website.
Staff were informed yesterday that the organisation would cease operations with immediate effect.
In the past, Relationships Ireland would have dealt with 400 clients annually, with 250 clients going through programs at any one time. The company is now in the process of informing clients of the decision and will be providing support to find alternative arrangements for them.
The charity regulator as well as Tusla have been informed of the the winding up of the organisation and a meeting with the company’s creditors is expected to take place in two week’s time.
“The board is determined to affect the wind up in as efficient and orderly fashion as possible and with the least possible disruption or negative impact to all parties”, according to the statement released by the board.
Relationships Ireland was founded in 1962 which provided services to both couples and individuals to overcome difficulties in their relationships or to help prevent further problems.
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