Cutbacks force refuge to turn women away

A “SAVAGE 30% cut” in funding to Meath Women’s Refuge and Support Services has resulted in 17 women and 21 children being turned away, according to the manager of the services Deirdre Murphy.

While the staff at the Navan-based Women’s Refuge were able to find accommodation for the women and children in other refuges outside the county, the cutbacks have left the service short €10,000 a month.

Acknowledging there are “huge national budgetary issues”, Ms Murphy said the level of cuts received by the Navan service is disproportionate as “similar services across the country received on average 3% to 5% cut to budget for 2009,” she claimed.