Gheel Autism Service

What Gheel Autism Service does

Gheel Autism Services CLG is an Irish non-profit company limited by guarantee (Charity Number 20015787, Company Registration 53565) founded in 1971 in Dublin by a group of parents of autistic people. Named after the centuries-old Geel community-support model in Belgium, the organization delivers residential, supported living, community, and transition services to autistic individuals across the Greater Dublin, Kildare, and North Wicklow regions. Its service model is grounded in the neurodiversity-affirming approach and emphasizes maximizing independence, quality of life, and community inclusion for autistic people.

The core service portfolio comprises three lines — Supported Living Services (HIQA-registered residential placements), Community Support Services (in-home and community-based supports), and Transition Services (life-stage transitions across Northside, Southside, and North Kildare) — supplemented by Housing Support Services delivered under its Approved Housing Body designation and guided by the Gheel Housing Strategy 2024-2027. Underlying technology is modest and operational: a WordPress public website (gheel.ie) and a SharePoint-based internal stack comprising the GRASP (Gheel Resources & Services Portal) staff intranet and GRASP Academy online training platform. The organization distributes a small set of accessible resources (Easy Read Guides) and runs sensory and arts programs with cultural partners.

Gheel is funded primarily through the Health Service Executive (HSE) Disability Teams following Assessment of Need referrals, with Pobal providing additional grant funding; pricing is not publicly disclosed and is set within HSE commissioning frameworks. The organization is governed by a Board chaired by Tony McMahon and led by CEO Gráinne Sexton, supported by a senior team covering Operations, Resources, Practice & Innovation, and Housing. Strategic partnerships with academic institutions (DCU, TCD, Maynooth University) and corporate/community partners (National Gallery of Ireland, Musgraves, Odeon Cinemas, Gaisce, AsIAm) extend service reach but do not materially diversify the HSE-concentrated revenue base.

Name

Gheel Autism Service

Legal name

Gheel Autism Services CLG

Website

https://gheel.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Gheel Autism Services is an Irish non-profit founded in 1971 that delivers HIQA-registered residential, supported living, community, and transition services to autistic individuals across Greater Dublin, Kildare, and North Wicklow, funded primarily by the HSE and Pobal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Support Services

NAICS

Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (623210), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Autism Transition Planning & Postsecondary Readiness (Educational) (EDAKAKAK)

Keywords

• Autism support services
• Residential disability care
• Supported living services
• Community support programs
• Transition support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Gheel Autism Services delivers HIQA-registered Supported Living Services (residential care), Community Support Services, Transition Services for life-stage changes, and Housing Support Services as an Approved Housing Body for autistic people in the Greater Dublin, Kildare, and North Wicklow regions. Services are funded by HSE and Pobal, with referrals routed through HSE Disability Teams following Assessment of Need.

Product overview

Gheel Autism Services is a non-profit service organization (charity registration 20015787, company 53565) founded in 1971, providing a portfolio of support services for autistic people in the Greater Dublin, Kildare, and North Wicklow regions. The organization operates on a neurodiversity model with three core service lines: Supported Living Services (HIQA-registered residential services), Community Support Services (community-based independence supports), and Transition Services (life-stage transition support across Northside, Southside, and North Kildare). Supporting these are internal platforms including the GRASP Portal (staff intranet) and GRASP Academy (online training), alongside accessible resources like Easy Read Guides. As an Approved Housing Body, Gheel also provides housing support services guided by the Gheel Housing Strategy 2024-2027.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Supported Living Services HIQA-registered residential support services providing autistic individuals with supported living arrangements in designated centers, registered and reviewed by the Health Information & Quality Authority (HIQA).
• Community Support Services Community-based supports for autistic people in the Greater Dublin, Kildare, and North Wicklow regions, focused on maximising independence and enhancing quality of life through person-centered, neurodiversity-affirming approaches.
• Transition Services Specialized support services to help autistic individuals transition between life stages, available in Northside, Southside, and North Kildare regions, including personal development programs such as Gaisce.
• Housing Support Services Housing support services delivered as an Approved Housing Body, guided by the Gheel Housing Strategy 2024-2027, with expressions of interest invited for housing partnership.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, moderate and minor.

• HSE (Health Service Executive)coreOthersPrimary government funder of disability services in Ireland. HSE conducts Assessment of Need before making referrals to Gheel for supports. All services operate under HSE funding framework.
• PobalcoreOthersGovernment agency that supports charities and community organizations in Ireland. Pobal provides funding and programmatic support to Gheel alongside the HSE.
• DCU (Dublin City University)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership including the IMPACT report collaboration focused on career support and employment outcomes for autistic individuals.
• TCD (Trinity College Dublin)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution partner supporting research and educational initiatives.
• Maynooth UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner supporting research initiatives.
• National Gallery of IrelandmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for Sensory Drawing Classes as part of National Drawing Day and ongoing arts programs for people supported by Gheel.
• HIQA (Health Information & Quality Authority)coreOthersAll residential services are registered and reviewed by HIQA. This regulatory oversight ensures quality and safety standards are maintained across all designated centers.
• Connection Arts CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts organization partner supporting community engagement and creative programs.
• AsiamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAutism support organization partner.
• MusgravesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner supporting employment and community integration opportunities.
• Odeon Cinemas UK and IrelandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for community engagement and accessible leisure activities.
• GaisceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for personal development programs through the Gaisce award scheme, hosted by the Transition Team for autistic young people.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• St John of God Community Services: Irish disability and mental health services provider offering residential and community supports funded by HSE. Comparable in scale, regulatory environment (HIQA), and person-centered service philosophy to Gheel.
• Camphill Communities of Ireland: Community-based disability services inspired by the international Camphill movement, providing residential and supported living in intentional community settings. Comparable in non-institutional, community-living service philosophy.
• AsIAm: Irish autism-specific charity (and named Gheel partner) focused on advocacy, education, and community supports for autistic people. Comparable autism-specific mission and neurodiversity-affirming approach.
• Western Care Association: Irish non-profit providing residential, supported living, and community services primarily to people with intellectual disabilities in the west of Ireland. Comparable non-profit disability service model with HSE funding.
• KARE: Irish disability services provider in the Kildare/Leinster region offering residential, respite, and day services. Direct regional overlap with Gheel's operating geography and similar HSE-funded non-profit model.
• Enable Ireland: National Irish disability services organization delivering residential, respite, and community-based supports to children and adults with disabilities. Comparable HSE-funded, HIQA-registered operating model with broader national footprint.
• Cheshire Ireland: Irish disability services charity providing supported living, residential, and community integration services. Operates with similar HSE funding model and person-centered philosophy to Gheel.
• Brothers of Charity Services Ireland: Large Irish non-profit providing a broad range of disability services including residential, day, and community supports across multiple regions. Directly comparable to Gheel in operating model, HSE funding dependency, and HIQA-regulated service delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Rehab Group: Large Irish non-profit delivering disability, education, training, and social care services nationally. Comparable HSE-funded operating model with a much broader service portfolio and national scale.
• National Autistic Society (UK): UK's largest autism-specific charity providing information, advocacy, and some direct services. Comparable autism-specific mission, though UK-focused and broader in scope than Gheel's service-delivery role.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gheel-autism-services

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gheel Autism Service