Down Syndrome Centre Our charity has been around for a few years and, in October 2014, we opened the doors to Ireland’s first services-led centre for children with Down syndrome and their families. Our main function is to provide vital services to children with Down syndrome aged 18 and under. The Down Syndrome Centre receives no government support. As a direct result, all of our initiatives are dependent on goodwill and gifts from our supporters, corporate bodies and the public at large.