A “SAVAGE” 30 per cent 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.
While staff at the Navan-based women’s refuge were able to find accommodation for the women and children in other refuges, the cutbacks mean “this has resulted in the services running on a budget cut of €10,000 per month”, according to Deirdre Murphy.
Acknowledging there were “huge national budgetary issues”, she said the level of cuts received by the Navan facility was disproportionate. “Across the country similar services received on average 3 per cent to 5 per cent cuts to budget for 2009.”
In response to the HSE, the refuge proposed a 10 per cent reduction in this year’s budget but Ms Murphy said: “This has not been accepted by the HSE, who have proposed to reduce our budget by 18 per cent in 2009, increasing to a 30 per cent reduction in 2010.”
As a direct result of the cutbacks the refuge could not take in 17 women and 21 children who needed to leave violent homes between May 18th and July 12th.
Ms Murphy said unless the HSE changed its position then further service reductions would have to be made.
The HSE denied its reduction in funding would have the impact claimed. In a statement it said: “The HSE is not the only source of funding available to Meath Women’s Refuge and Support Services. Based on the 2008 audited accounts for Meath Women’s Refuge and Support Services, the 2009 HSE allocation amounts to an overall reduction of 10 per cent in total income for Meath Women’s Refuge and Support Services.
“The revised level of funding must be considered in the context of the substantial funds held by Meath Women’s Refuge and Support Services as per 2008 audited accounts.”