Charity rescues Galway mothers' project

The future of a Galway project which supports young mothers to remain in or return to education, has been saved by the St Vincent de Paul charity.

The St Vincent de Paul society has agreed to fund the Galway Youth Federation's Young Mothers in Education project, which has been in existence since 1999.

The project was awarded €120,000 in funding for the next two years from the dormant accounts fund, but could not draw down the funding unless it had a local funder. It has also been unable to secure core funding from any Government department despite its success rate and proven track record.

Regional director with the Galway Youth Federation, Val McNicholas, said it was greatly indebted to the St Vincent de Paul society for its generous assistance.

"Both organisations appreciate that education is the best way of tackling poverty and that this is a way for them to provide a practical long-term solution for young mothers and their children," he said.

The Young Mothers in Education project is well known locally and is supported by Fás and the city and county VECs. It also receives some funding from the Department of Social and Family Affairs, the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, as well as various foundations and trusts.

"The project would like to thank all of those who have supported it during this difficult period and lobbied at both local and national level. We would especially like to thank Minister Éamon Ó Cuív," said Mr McNicholas.