Emergency Motion Passed On Women’S Refuge In Carlow

Following reports that funding of €1.5m is to be used to improve services for victims of domestic violence in Carlow; People Before Profit councillor Adrienne Wallace put forward an emergency motion. The motion calls on Tulsa to send a representative to the November council meeting to explain why the additional funding is not being considered to help secure a refuge for Carlow. At the July meeting of Carlow council it was revealed that operational funding is required from Tusla to support the Refuge.

Cllr. Wallace said “the campaign for a women’s refuge was started by people in this community over 2 years ago and yet we are still waiting on any kind of meaningful action from the council and Tulsa. At my first council meeting in July I raised this as a matter of urgency. Nothing has transpired in those 6 months and now we learn from a parliamentary question that Tulsa has secured funding of over €1.5million. We welcome this news but questions need to be asked of Tulsa and the unnecessary delays surrounding the badly needed refuge. We have run out of time, the courts are clogged with restraining and safety orders and women in Carlow still have nowhere to go.”

Cllr Wallace added that “Carlow council’s chief executive, Kathleen Holohan has stated she has seen a report from Tulsa which states that Carlow does not need a refuge but this report has still not materialized despite numerous requests. However, two reports do exist which state we need a refuge – an independent report produce by Carlow county development partnership and a draft copy of Tulsa’s needs analysis which was obtained through FOI. I put forward an emergency motion calling for a representative from Tulsa to attend the November council meeting to answer our questions and move this forward – enough is enough.”