ESB donation provides bus for refuge as new premises plan moves to design stages

IT WAS all smiles for the voluntary committee at Wexford Women’s Refuge as a design team has been appointed to the development of a new premises at Trespan.

The refuge received funding of €2.2m earlier this year from the Department of Housing and the plan is to construct, in association with Wexford County Council, a refuge to accommodate 12 families.

At present, the Distillery Road premises can only provide residention accommodation for four families.

The refuge also offers a 24-hour helpline, outreach and accompaniment for victims to court hearings.

The design team will be headed up by County Architect Shay Howell.

Responding to the news, chairperson of the voluntary board of management, Joe Ryan said he was delighted to see the project making progress, adding that it was great news for the service users and staff: ‘We expect that the design will be agreed by Autumn. Following that the project will seek planning permission and go to tender. We are on track to have a new Women’s Refuge built and occupied by 2020.’

The refuge was also the recipient of a grant of €10,000 from the ESB Energy for Generation Fund, which they have used to purchase a van to assist in the day-to-day running of the refuge.

Mr Ryan remarked that the van would be extremely helpful in arranging collection and deliveries for vulnerable women and children, and would mean that they could improve the service offered on a countywide basis.

RIGHT: At the presentation of the ESB Energy for Generation Fund €10,000 cheque to Wexford Women’s Refuge

(from left) back – Inspector Denis Whelan, Angela Hore, Lucinda Kelly, Shirley Roche and Michael O’Connor of the ESB Energy for Generation Fund; seated – Pauline Ennis, manager, Catherine O’Dwyer, ESB Energy for Generation Fund and Joe Ryan, chairperson, Wexford Women’s Refuge.