Pieta House is to take over the services provided by Console after reaching an agreement with the HSE.

A provisional liquidator was appointed to Console this afternoon after financial issues at the charity.

An agreement has been reached between Pieta House and the HSE to take over the services of Console.

The suicide bereavement charity’s 24 hour helpline will only be down for no more than an hour during the changeover according to the HSE.

Now former Interim CEO of Console David Hall has said the services will be kept: “There was no choice today but to liquidate the company.

“Over the last number of days I along with Pieta House and the HSE have gone into extensive discussions, I think they are technically called negotiations to ensure the services continue.”

The initial agreement with Pieta House will only last 10 days – a bridging agreement while they finalise details.

The HSE say all service users of Console will be individually contacted to ask if they want to transfer to Pieta House or opt out of the service.

Earlier a provisional liquidator was appointed to Console which was described as ‘hopelessly insolvent’ with debts of almost €300,000.

It is not clear yet what will happen to the 12 permanent and 60 part time staff and counsellors at Console.

The case is due before the court again on July 28.