TWO COUNTY COUNCILS have come together to fund a women’s refuge so it won’t have to close.

Louth County Council and Dundalk Town Council are providing €15,000 each to Dundalk Women’s Aid in order to remove the immediate threat of closure.

Sinn Féin Louth TD Gerry Adams has welcomed the move, saying “the decisions by the two Councils are very welcome” however he added that “they are not the answer to the problem of funding”.

The Sinn Féin leader said that:

“Women’s Aid Dundalk is in the frontline of helping victims of domestic violence. Last year the demand on its services were such that it was unable to accommodate 293 requests for refuge.

The loss of the Dundalk service will leave hundreds of women and children vulnerable to continued domestic violence.

“The reality is that services and support for women and children experiencing abuse in the home is at an all-time low as a result of government cutbacks”.

Read: Increase in domestic abuse applications in courts ‘only the tip of iceberg’>

Read: Women’s Aid accepts donation from man who beat up girlfriend>