Offaly Centre For Independent Living

09/10/2026

💙💛 *WE'RE HIRING IN LAOIS!*

Want a rewarding job where you can make a real difference? We're looking for *Personal Assistants* to join our fantastic team!

💰 Great rates of pay
🚗 Driver & QQI Level 5 essential

📞 085 889 4828

🙌 *Please share or tag someone who'd be a great fit!*

01/10/2026

🐍🦎 A brilliant day out for Noreen! 🐢💙💛

Noreen McInerney recently had the opportunity to attend the Reptile Expo Ireland 2026 at the SETU Arena in Waterford, accompanied by her PA Linda, through OCIL’s Alternative Respite Funding.

The day gave Noreen the chance to enjoy something a little different, explore the wide variety of reptiles and exotic animals on display, and experience a fantastic event outside of her usual routine.

Our Alternative Respite Funding is all about supporting Leaders to enjoy meaningful experiences, attend events that interest them and take part in activities of their own choosing, with the support of their PA where needed.

Noreen even brought home a new little friend from the day! 🦎

We hope Noreen and Linda had a fantastic time in Waterford and made some great memories along the way. 💙💛

24/09/2026

A wonderful weekend away for Jass 💙💛

We were delighted to see Jass enjoying a fantastic two-night stay at The Killeshin Hotel in Portlaoise, where she attended the GROW Mental Health National Weekend with the support of her PA, Kathryn.

Attending the weekend was something that was very important to Jass, but it would not have been possible without Kathryn being there to provide the support and assistance she needed throughout the trip.

Thanks to OCIL’s Alternative Respite Funding, Jass was able to enjoy the full weekend, take part in the event, meet and socialise with others, and have a well-deserved break away from her usual routine.

Alternative respite is about giving people greater choice, independence and opportunity to enjoy experiences that are meaningful to them. For Jass, that meant being able to attend an event she wanted to be part of, while having the reassurance and support of a trusted PA alongside her.

A huge thank you to Kathryn for supporting Jass and helping make the weekend possible. The photos certainly show plenty of smiles and it looks like a brilliant weekend was had! 💙💛

We hope you made some lovely memories, Jass!

23/09/2026

Same work. Less pay.

The people delivering Ireland's disability services in voluntary organisations are paid less than their counterparts in in the public sector. A Workplace Relations Commission agreement started to close that gap, a 9.25% rise running to October 2026. But that deal is now ending, and keeping pay aligned depends on Section 39 workers being included in the next public-sector pay agreement. It isn't guaranteed.

On top of stretched funding for organisations, there's a recruitment and retention crisis, with staff shortages pushing waiting lists longer.

Two-thirds of DFI's members are Section 39 organisations, delivering for the State. Ahead of Budget 2027, we are calling for WRC pay alignment to be maintained and extended across other Government schemes and grants.

Read our pre-Budget submission: https://rebrand.ly/9j23yyk

21/09/2026

17/09/2026

Last year, the Government described its investment in disability services as improving "the sustainability of the sector." But for many of the organisations delivering those services, the job isn't finished.

The way sustainability funding was allocated in Budget 2026 didn't reach every organisation under pressure. Two-thirds of DFI's members are Section 39 organisations, delivering services on behalf of the State without the funding certainty of a statutory body. And many are still carrying rising costs with no cushion to fall back on. Pension auto-enrolment now adds a new, unfunded cost on top.

Ahead of Budget 2027, we are calling for sustainability funding applied fairly across the whole sector, a funding model built on the real cost of delivery, and support to meet the cost of auto-enrolment.
Our members support over 429,000 disabled people every year. Finishing the job on sustainability is how those services stay standing.

Read our pre-Budget submission here: https://rebrand.ly/9j23yyk

16/09/2026

Three weeks to Budget 2027.

The Government has said a permanent Cost of Disability payment is a priority. Disabled people have heard the commitment. We need to see a payment delivered on 6 October.

Disabled people face €11,046–€15,617 in extra costs every year, just to live an ordinary life, and with one-off supports gone in last year's Budget, many are facing arrears and mounting costs with nothing to fill it.

A meaningful recurring, Cost of Disability payment is what turns a promise into something people can actually live on. That's what we're calling for in three weeks' time.

Read our pre-Budget submission: https://rebrand.ly/9j23yyk

16/09/2026

"The government has said disability is a priority. I'm asking them to act like it is."

Damien O'Reilly has cerebral palsy and uses a powered wheelchair and an overhead hoist, equipment that runs twelve hours out of every twenty-four and can't be switched off.

He writes about what the cost of living really means when you can't cut back on the things that keep you alive, including wearing a jacket indoors because the heating's off, giving up his Sunday lunch, stretching a disability allowance across the needs of six people.

With three weeks to Budget 2027, Damien's words are a reminder of what's at stake. A permanent Cost of Disability payment has been named a Government priority. For people like Damien, the difference between a promise and a payment is the difference between surviving and living.

Read Damien's piece here: https://rebrand.ly/s0n3juy

10/09/2026

We’re looking for Personal Assistants/HCAs to join our team and support people with disabilities to live independently and enjoy life in their own communities.

If this sounds like the role for you, we’d love to hear from you. Please share and help us spread the word! 💛💙

All details below 👇