Kelly calls for cross party support to reopen women's refuge centre immediately

The decision to close Wexford women's refuge centre for thirteen weeks as a cost saving measure is unacceptable and must be reversed immediately.  Those are the views of Cllr Anthony Kelly who has called for an emergency meeting of Wexford Borough Council in an effort to get the HSE's decision overturned as quickly as possible.

The Sinn Féin Councillor said;

"The decision to close the women's refuge centre as a temporary cost saving measure will cause irrevocable damage to the lives of local women and children who rely upon the shelter, food and care offered by the refuge.  There will be no savings made by this closure unless the HSE is recommending that these people in need should be put out onto the street.  That cannot be allowed to happen and the council will need to provide emergency housing which will end up costing more than the savings being talked about here."

"Last year the HSE closed down an operating theatre at Wexford General Hospital.  This year it's the women's refuge centre.  What's next?  Its seems the HSE under the current government believes it's ok to put a value on human life.  They seem to believe that closing a vital refuge centre to make small savings is more important than protecting vulnerable women and children."

"I am calling upon all elected reps in this county, local and national, to stand together and push for a full reversal on this totally irresponsible decision.  This is not a political issue, it's an issue of affording vulnerable people the most basic provisions for life; shelter, food and care.  This closure will cause untold hardship and could cost lives unless we stand together and force the HSE to back down."