Crowe Raises Woman’s Refuge Closure in Dáil
Dublin South West TD Seán Crowe raised the imminent closure of Cuan Álainn a refuge for women victims of domestic violence based in Tallaght in the Dáil with Environment Minister Alan Kelly during a Sinn Féin motion on Homelessness and Housing.
The Tallaght based Deputy said that the Respond Housing Agency had effectively bankrolled the centre since its opening over three and half years ago without any State support.
Crowe said he believes that we needs to be more opening more of these support centres not closing them.
Speaking last night, Deputy Seán Crowe said:
“As I stand here tonight a women’s refuge for victims of domestic violence in Cuan Álainn Tallaght is set to be closed on the 18th December.
“Respond, a voluntary Housing Agency, says they cannot continue to fund the refuge for women and children fleeing domestic violence.
“Respond has literally bank-rolled the refuge in Tallaght for the past three and half years without any financial support of the State.
“Catering for nine families, Cuan Álainn has housed 71 women and 96 children for more than 3 years at a cost of €350,000 per annum.
“Respond undertook to fund this service for 3 years and can no longer afford to do so.
“Without this service women and children may now have to return home to an abusive environment or be forced to enter into homelessness.
“Agencies, including Tulsa, accept that Respond has identified a definite need to care for women (and children) who must move on from Emergency Refuges.
“Alternative arrangements are now being sought to procure housing for the women and children concerned but surely we should opening more of these Centres not closing them.
“Cuan Álainn serves a huge catchment area where the need is great and unfortunately growing.
“I am calling on all the Government Departments involved to fund this valuable service as the cost to the State to provide alternatives will in the long run be more costly.
“We need to be opening more of these vital support centres not closing them.”