CoAction was founded by parents and friends in Bantry in 1974 to ensure that children with an intellectual disability who were travelling to Cork for their education could receive the same in their own community.  CoAction responded to an emerging demand for adult services and commenced a ‘sheltered workshop’ for adults in 1982. CoAction was founded on the philosophy of ‘a local service for local needs’, and with this in mind local branches of volunteers were established in Castletownbere, Clonakilty, Dunmanway and Skibbereen, in addition to the original branch in Bantry.   The first state funding was received in 1990. CoAction has developed comprehensive services for both children and adults with an intellectual disability and autism in the West Cork area and now provides services for 598 children and 140 adults. CoAction is the designated service provider for children & adults with an intellectual disability and Autism in the West Cork area.