Louth SPCA launch petition to stop Animal Ark from collecting in the area

The Louth Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Louth SPCA) have this week launched a petition to stop Animal Ark from collecting in towns across Ireland.

According to the Louth SPCA, when Animal Ark collects money they:

• have no permit for doing so (they are only permitted to sell scratch cards)
• do not contribute to the local animal charity in the area for whom they claim to be doing so
• are taking away donations from very reputable Animal Rescues who struggle on a daily basis to keep open and take, treat and home abused, abandoned and neglected animals

Over 2,500 people have signed the petition to date, with the intention of handing it to the Gardaí when it reaches its target of 5,000 supporters.

If you would like to sign the petition you can do so here.

Adams welcomes funding from councils for Dundalk Women’s Aid

Local TD Gerry Adams has welcomed the decision by Louth County Council and Dundalk Town Council to provide €15,000 each to Dundalk Women’s Aid “in order to remove the immediate threat of closure.”

The Sinn Féin president praised his council colleagues, and in particular Cllr Edel Corrigan and Cllr Jennifer Green who “each presented a motion to their respective councils condemning the funding cuts to the refuge and demanding a reversal of those cuts.”

Commeting on the matter, Deputy Adams said: “The decisions by the two councils are very welcome but they are not the answer to the problem of funding for Dundalk Women’s Refuge and other refuges across the state.

“Women’s Aid Dundalk is in the frontline of helping victims of domestic violence. It provides a 24/7 service. Last year the demand on its services were such that it was unable to accommodate 293 requests for refuge. One consequence of this is that Drogheda Women’s Refuge which has limited space will now have to cope with victims from Louth, Cavan and Monaghan.

“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. The decision by the two Louth Councils has provided an opportunity to campaign to reverse current government policy and I would urge all county Louth representatives, but especially government TDs and Seanadóirí, to use their influence to secure government funding for Dundalk Women’s Aid,” he said.

Councils allocate €30,000 in bid to keep Dundalk Women’s Aid from closing

At a special meeting last night to discuss the impending closure of Dundalk Women’s Aid this summer Louth County and Dundalk Town Council both passed a motion condemning the national directive, which has led to funding for the vital service being cut.

Both local authorities have now agreed to petition the government to provide additional funding for the local refuge.

Earlier this month the Women’s Aid centre in Dundalk announced that it would close its doors on June 27^th due to funding cutbacks.

A national directive means a maximum of €20,000 will be allocated to the refuge this year – down 75% on the level of funding from 2012.

Management at Women’s Aid Dundalk said this was not sufficient to operate the refuge, leaving them with no alternative to close.

Last night the local authorities tried to help by agreeing to allocate €15,000 each to the refuge, thereby ensuring that it will remain open until the end of the year.

While welcoming this gesture, management at Women’s Aid are anxious to secure a long-term solution to ensure they can continue to keep their doors open for vulnerable women beyond the end of 2014.

Senator Moran welcomes management takeover at Elvery’s

Senator Mary Moran with local Elvery’s staff on her recent visit to the store at Dundalk Retail Park

Local senator Mary Moran has welcomed the news that the management team at Elvery’s has succeeded in its bid to buy back the company from examiners.

The Labour Party representative was amongst a number of local politicians to lend support to the sports retailer’s staff over the last few weeks as 700 jobs were on the line around the country, including a number in Dundalk.

Senator Moran was one of many who signed a local petition at the local store in Dundalk Retail Park and said in a statement yesterday that she was hopeful that the purchase will secure the future of staff at Elvery’s both locally and around the country.

She said: “The management team at Elverys has succeeded in its bid to buy back the company, which will offer a much needed lifeline to its nearly 700 strong workforce across the country, including its Dundalk store.

“I recently met with employees of the Dundalk Elvery’s to discuss their concerns and assured them of my full support for their campaign to retain all 700 jobs across the country.

“I understand that the bid is to be formally approved by both its creditors and the High Court, and I am hopeful that it will provide reassurance and clarity on the situation.

“The management team has indicated its commitment to maintaining jobs and I am urging that all efforts are made to ensure that the jobs in the Dundalk store are protected as many livelihoods depend on it,” said the Senator.

 

Cllr Corrigan proposes motion of no confidence in government directive that has led to Women’s Aid closure in Dundalk

Cllr Edel Corrigan

Cllr Edel Corrigan has called for a special meeting of Louth County Council to tackle the issue of the announced closure of the Women’s Aid Refuge in Dundalk.

The Sinn Féin representative’s call for a meeting follows a similar action from Green Party councillors Mark Dearey and Marianne Butler, who want Dundalk Town Council to meet on the matter.

Cllr Corrigan is calling for a meeting under Section 5 of Standing Orders and submitted her petition yesterday, which had joint support from a number of other county councillors

She is proposing the following motion: “That Louth County Council have no confidence in the directive from the government which has led to the reduction of funding and the forced closure of Dundalk Women’s Aid refuge. That Louth County Council Petition National Government to provide additional funding for the provision of services at Women’s Aid refuge Dundalk with immediate effect.”

Commenting on the proposed closure, Cllr Corrigan said: “It is tragic to think that such a vital service like the Women’s Aid refuge will be removed from Dundalk.

“I am dumbfounded by the recklessness and disregard the government have for the needs of the people they claim to represent. It takes a lot for someone in an abusive situation to remove themselves from such a dangerous environment and now these women will have nowhere to turn to.

“Housing policies already work against those who leave the family home. Criteria for being accepted to the local authority housing list exempt you if you have a financial interest in the property. The facilities at the Women’s Aid Refuge are second to none. What are these women and children expected to do now? It’s bad enough that such a high demand for these services and lack of funding has previously led to hundreds of women and children being turned away from the Women’s Aid refuge in Dundalk as there are no resources to accommodate them.”

Cllr Corrigan concluded: “We need to be preventing domestic violence by educating people of its effects and supporting those who need help to get out of harmful situations, not abandoning them when they are most in need of support.”

Green Party councillors call for special meeting to be convened to discuss Dundalk Women’s Aid closure

The Green Party’s Cllr Marianne Butler (left) and Cllr Mark Dearey (right) with party leader Eamon Ryan in Blackrock

Green Party councillors Mark Dearey and Marianne Butler have called for a special meeting of Dundalk Town Council to be convened to discuss the impending closure of the Women’s Aid refuge in Dundalk.

Earlier this week, the centre announced it would close its doors on Friday June 27^th due to cutbacks in funding.

A national directive means that a maximum of €20,000 will be allocated to the refuge this year – down 75% on the level of funding from 2012.

Management of the refuge say that this is not sufficient for them to run the centre and added that “this decimation of funding has left us with no alternative but to close.”

Commenting on the matter, Cllrs Dearey and Butler said it was up to the political leaders in the town to see what can be done to keep the refuge open. As a result, they are hoping to setup a meeting of local councillors and officials to discuss the matter as soon as possible.

An online petition encouraging the local authority to keep the refuge open has also been set up, with almost 300 signatories already. You can add your name to the list here.

Meanwhile, local TD Gerry Adams yesterday raised the issue in the Dáil and questioned Taoiseach Enda Kenny on promised legislation to protect the victims of domestic violence.

Speaking afterward Deputy Adams said: “I welcome the Taoiseach’s commitment that the general scheme on updating and reforming the existing legislation on domestic violence will be published before the summer recess. However, I am concerned that it could still be next year before the actual Bill is published. This is an unnecessary and unacceptable delay.

“In the meantime government cutbacks to funding for Rape Crisis Centres and Women’s Aid Refuges, like that in Dundalk, are stripping away much needed protections from the victims of domestic violence.

“The programme for Government promised to introduce reformed domestic violence legislation to address all aspects of domestic violence and to do so in a manner that provides protection to victims.

“There will be significantly reduced protection for women and children victims of domestic violence if Dundalk Women’s Ard refuge is forced to close.

“This will leave Drogheda women’s aid centre as the only refuge for victims of domestic violence covering Louth, Cavan and Monaghan.

“How can the Government claim to be protecting victims when the Department of the Environment is cutting funding on homelessness through local councils and this is having a direct impact on the funding of Women’s refuges for women and children victims of domestic violence?

“The government has no difficulty finding billions of money for the banks but isn’t prepared to set aside the relatively small amount of money required to support distressed and vulnerable women and children.

“The Government must reverse policy on this issue. Funding for Dundalk Women’s Aid should be restored and the legislative protections needed for those at risk should be put in place speedily,” he said.