Plans lodged for city LGBT drop-in centre

Plans for a new drop-in resource centre for the LGBT community at Victoria Place in the city have been lodged with the local authority.

However, problems have already arisen for Amach – the support group for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender – after a delay in the release of €25,000 in funding from the City Council.

According to the group, it is already two months in rent arrears at ‘The Mart’ building at Merchants Road and Victoria Place because the funding has not come through – one year after it was earmarked by the Council.

However, the Council has said the funding was for capital support and was not intended to be used to pay rent.

A spokesperson said: “The matter was raised at the last meeting of the Council and will be revisited next Monday, where I understand some proposals will come before the Council.”

A spokesperson for Amach said: “Never at any stage did Amach mention the purchase of a building or was it ever suggested by any member of the Council, therefore the board of Amach rejects the claim that ‘the councillors allocated financial support to the resource centre was intended to be capital support towards the long-term provision of a centre and not for rental purposes’.”

According to the planning application for the unit at Victoria Place – owned by businessman Brendan Holland – “the centre will be a safe, accessible environment to combat the effects of isolation, homophobia and transphobia on the overall health and well-being for LGBT, and their families.

“It will serve as a drop-in location for the LGBT community, the wider community and those visiting our city,” the application reads.

The aim initially is to have the centre open to the public as a drop-in during the day at weekends and on Wednesdays.

“The centre will be used in the evenings from 6.30pm to 10pm for meetings, peer support and the LGBT helpline. Also for a variety of workshops including education, training, counselling and various health promotion events.

“An area to the front of the premises will provide space for the sale of merchandise such as t-shirts, cards, keyrings.

“The office will be used as a confidential space for the provision of counselling, health screening, operation of a helpline, smaller peer support meetings and will double as an office space for a part-time community support development worker.

“The larger space will have a small library and seating area with a small kitchenette at the rear. This space is where people can make themselves tea/coffee, avail of the books provided, get information, meet friends in a safe environment.

“It will also double as an education, training and health promotion centre, and where a wide variety of self-development and community developments event can be accommodated,” the application reads.