Urgent funding needed for women’s refuge – Seán Crowe TD

The future of the Cuan Álainn women’s and children’s shelter in Tallaght is in peril unless the government provides immediate funding for this vital community resource.

Responding to the imminent closure of Cuan Álainn, Dublin South West representative Seán Crowe TD said:

 “This shelter is currently providing safe haven for nine women and their families and it cannot be allowed to close due to funding issues. Since opening three years ago this centre has provided refuge to over 55 women and 82 children fleeing from domestic violence and now may face closure in January.

The Respond! housing association, which established Cuan Álainn, has an application for funding into the Department for Children and Youth Affairs and I am now calling on Minister Reilly to review this application as a matter of urgency.

The funding crisis facing Cuan Álainn is unfortunately not a unique problem in this area and is part of a wider homeless crisis facing Tallaght, with many shelters now full to capacity and those in need being sent elsewhere, out of their community, in order to find a bed for the night.

It is unacceptable that an emergency housing shelter located in a community, where resources are already stretched, is now facing closure and the Minister needs to act immediately.”