Shock as Athlone service to close after more than 25 years

The Stepping Out programme in Athlone, which for more than 25 years has been helping to rehabilitate people who found themselves in trouble with the judicial system, is set to close next month.

The impending closure of the service, due to a funding issue, has been greeted with shock and dismay by many of those connected with the programme over the years.

Based in Belhavel, Golden Island, Stepping Out has been operated by the National Learning Network with funding provided by the Department of Justice through the probation service.

The National Learning Network told the Westmeath Independent it had been in talks with the Department "to secure adequate funding to keep this programme open," but that "unfortunately these efforts were unsuccessful".

A spokesperson for the Department of Justice, meanwhile, said it had been advised that Stepping Out "did not apply for funding from the probation service" for 2026.

Athlone's Cllr Frankie Keena, who along with fellow councillor Paul Hogan is a member of Stepping Out's steering committee, said he was "hugely disappointed" by the news.

"I was shocked and annoyed when I heard about this," Cllr Keena said on Monday. "Stepping Out has been providing an excellent service, and the service users really benefit from being part of it."

It’s understood the programme in Athlone had been working with up to 50 service users each year. By engaging with people who are on probation, Stepping Out has helped many add skills to help steer them on a pathway to employment.

"There are a lot of success stories of people who engaged with the programme and are now doing well for themselves, are in employment, and getting on with their lives. That’s fantastic to see, and it’s down to the good work done by the team in the Stepping Out office in Athlone," said Cllr Keena.

He added that he was requesting an urgent meeting with the operators of the service, the National Learning Network, and with local Oireachtas members, in a last-ditch effort to avert the closure.

"Even at this late stage, we need to try to pull out all the stops to try to get it saved. A lot of people in Athlone know Stepping Out, they know the good work that it does, and the positives that come with that. We can’t afford to lose this service for the town."

Cllr Hogan said Stepping Out had provided a regional service, based in Athlone, for the last quarter of a century. "Over this time, Stepping Out has supported hundreds of people to improve their educational, employment and training opportunities," he said.

Cllr Hogan claimed there had been a significant cut made last year to the budget for the Stepping Out service.

"This is despite the budget for probation services being increased by 11% and various commitments made in the Programme for Government to enhance educational, employment and training opportunities," he said.

"Both Cllr Frankie Keena and I are members of the steering committee. We empathise with all who work with and avail of the Stepping Out service."

When contacted by this newspaper, the National Learning Network (NLN) issued a statement saying it "can confirm that the Stepping Out programme in Athlone will close next month due to insufficient funding from the Department of Justice probation service.

"This programme was devised to meet the needs of persons referred by the probation service in preparation for training and open employment," it said.

"Over the course of 2025, NLN engaged in discussions with the Department to secure adequate funding to keep this programme open, but unfortunately, these efforts were unsuccessful."

NLN went on to say that "a cessation plan" had been put in place for the service "to ensure a smooth transition".

"The small number of students in the Stepping Out programme will be supported to move onto other suitable programmes, either within NLN, or elsewhere in the further education and training ecosystem."

It added that the staff members delivering the service "will also be redeployed to continue working with students across NLN’s diverse range of programmes".

A Department of Justice spokesperson told us that no application for funding to continue operating the Stepping Out service in 2026 had been received.

When the Westmeath Independent raised this with the National Learning Network, a spokesperson responded: "Based on indications from the Department regarding funding availability, NLN did not submit an application as it was clear that sufficient funding would not be made available to maintain the programme in 2026."

The closure of Stepping Out - in the current absence of any equivalent service being provided to replace it - threatens to leave a vacuum in service provision for those who have gotten into difficulty and wish to rehabilitate their lives.

"If the Government are looking to help people who have been facing addiction, and if they want to give them another avenue in life, a programme like Stepping Out is the way to go about it," said Cllr Keena, who has also been involved with the Athlone Drug Awareness Group for many years.

The Department of Justice said that, in light of Stepping Out’s planned closure, "the probation service intends to undertake a review of services needed in the local area and proceed with an expression of interest process to fill those service needs".

Stepping Out began as a pilot programme in January 2000 and its success at that stage led to it becoming established on a permanent basis.

Those taking part in the programme have contributed to many community projects in Athlone over the years.

In recent times, the handiwork of Athlone Stepping Out participants could be seen at the 1916 Centenary Garden in Burgess Park, in the obelisk public sculpture also erected in Burgess Park, and in large chess board tables provided to Athlone and Mullingar libraries.

Participants also created handmade chess boards which were presented to primary and secondary schools in the Athlone area within the last couple of years.

Speaking to the Westmeath Independent for an article about Stepping Out a number of years ago, one of the participants spoke about the significant impact it had on her life.

"If I didn’t have someone there to help me, and a place I could come in every day and do something with my life, I’d probably end up taking the wrong path, getting into more trouble, and being up in court every Wednesday which is something I don’t want," she said.

"Stepping Out helped me to continue to get my goals and do what I want to do in life."