Funding of €489k approved for second Women’s Refuge
By Aura McMenamin
TALLAGHT could see the opening of a second women’s shelter, after it was announced this week that Saoirse Women’s Refuge will receive funding to purchase a second premises.
In November, Saoirse Women’s Refuge applied for funding under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) for approved housing bodies, to open a second shelter for women and children leaving domestic abuse.
Saoirse Board members at the 10th anniverary celebrations last July
The application for funding was discussed in council chambers on Monday 12, during which a motion to approve the allocation of funds to Saoirse was passed.
A statement from a senior executive at South Dublin County Council said: “On the 2nd of February 2018 the Department [of Housing] issued correspondence confirming CAS funding approval in the sum of €489,600 in respect of the acquisition cost only on this proposal.
“The Department has stated in their report that costs in respect of refurbishment works on this property are to be directly funded by South Dublin County Council.”
The Echo understands that family agency Tusla will provide resources for staffing the second refuge.
The Echo also understands that the new refuge will be managed by Saoirse, which operates an existing service in Tallaght and provides year-round accommodation for women and children suffering domestic abuse, as well as providing a 24-hr helpline, outreach services and a childcare facility.
The last report by Saoirse stated that 235 women and children sought refuge in 2016, with 19 women and children being homed in safe houses.
Space constrictions at the refuge
The refuge also had 158 outreach clients and 1,886 calls to its helpline that year. Due to space constrictions, the refuge could not accommodate a further 275 families due to capacity issues.
Sinn Fein councillor Louise Dunne helped push for the opening of a new refuge for two years, as the current refuge, which has six self-contained apartments for women and children seeking temporary shelter from domestic abuse, is always at full capacity.
She told The Echo: “Nearly all the time, they are full to capacity – they sometimes have to turn women away.”
Cllr Dunne, who said she cried with happiness upon hearing the news of the funding, said: ”This will have a huge impact giving women and children respite. The damage that can be done to children psychologically can last a lifetime.
“When a woman decides to leave an abusive partner, it puts her at risk. Saoirse go above and beyond to help women and this couldn’t have been done without the people on the ground.”
The Echo contacted Saoirse Women’s Refuge who said that at this early stage, they were unable to comment.
