An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir July / August 2023 www.military.ie/magazine 22 | EMPOWERING VETERANS: THE MISSION OF ÓGLAIGH NÁISIÚNTA NA HÉIREANN BY CORMAC KIRWAN CEO ONE PHOTOS BY WAYNE FITZGERALD INTRODUCTION Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann (Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel - ONE) is a Veterans Organisation, Registered Charity, Company Limited by Guarantee, an Approved Housing Body, and a Sustainable Energy Community for veterans of the Defence Forces. ONE was established on 10 March 1951 and the primary objective is to "Support the needs of Irish veterans by the provision of accommodation to homeless and other veterans in need of such domestic accommodation in its Veterans' Homes and the provision of other advice and support to veterans through its nationwide network of Branches and Veterans Support Centres". Comradeship, Advocacy, and Remembrance are ancillary objectives. Our services are available to all veterans of the Defence Forces and we facilitate veterans from other countries from time to time. ONE's current capacity provides accommodation (board and lodging) for 51 veterans, who would otherwise be homeless, in its four residential homes in Athlone, Cobh, Dublin and Letterkenny. ONE is developing its fifth home in Cork City which is scheduled to open by the end of 2023 and two further homes in Limerick and Kildare which we plan to open in 2024. ONE has also developed a nationwide network of Branches and Veteran's Support Centres and has a counselling service for veterans of the Defence Forces. HOMES FOR VETERANS The provision of board and lodging is currently achieved through our homes in Athlone, Cobh, Dublin, and Letterkenny. The Dublin home (Brú na bhFiann) is located in Smithfield and has thirty five bedrooms dedicated to homeless veterans. The home in Letterkenny (Brú Doire Feá) has six bedrooms, while Athlone (Brú Chostúim) and Cobh (Brú na Farraige) can each facilitate five veterans. ONE continued its programme of improving its current homes in 2022, supported by the Department of Defence through the Dormant Account Funds, with over €115,000 invested in capital improvement projects. Our fifth home in Cork City (Brú Uí Choileáin) with six bedrooms is being developed in partnership with Cork City Council and is scheduled to open by the end of 2023. Our sixth home in Limerick (Brú an tSáirséalaigh) with five bedrooms is being developed in partnership with Limerick City and County Council and the Department of Defence, and ONE's seventh home in Kildare (to be named) with six bedrooms is being developed in partnership with Kildare County Council. By the end of 2024, ONE will have sixty eight single bedrooms for homeless veterans nationwide with a target of having eighty bedrooms by the end of 2026 with further developments in Galway and Louth. Ryan & McConnell (2015) identified that it cost approximately €32,000 a year for every homeless person. While ONE receives funding through the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive in support of our home in Dublin, none of our other homes receive state funding for running costs. ONE pays approximately €7,700 net annually per homeless veteran in our homes outside of Dublin exclusive of residents' contributions. This costing per homeless veteran represents significant value for money. VETERAN SUPPORT CENTRES AND BRANCHES ONE has developed a nationwide network of Veteran's Support Centres to provide veterans with information, advice, someone to listen and somewhere to meet with former comrades. Our Veteran Support Centres are seen as a cross between a meeting place and an advice centre and provides valuable support within the veteran community. Early intervention alleviates social stresses and significantly reduces homelessness among veterans. Veteran Support Centres staffed by volunteer members are now located in: Athlone; Athy; Casement Aerodrome; Cathal Brugha Bks, Dublin; Cavan; Cobh; Collins Bks, Cork: Curragh Camp; Dundalk; Finner Camp, Donegal; Galway; Kilkenny; Limerick; McKee Bks, Dublin; and Wexford. Of the fifteen Veteran

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