New facility for addicted mums

A NEW facility for recovering mums and their kids was officially opened at Coolmine Therapeutic Community recently by Dublin Lord Mayor, Críona Ní Dhálaigh.

Located at Ashleigh House, the facility can house six mothers with children and allows Coolmine to cater for up to 24 mothers in treatment.

The service also treats expectant women with complex needs who are in crisis and at risk of homelessness. 

“The service provided by Coolmine Ashleigh House is critical to supporting more women to access treatment without fear of losing access to their children,” the Lord Mayor said.

“It is the only residential addiction centre for mothers and their children in Ireland and I am delighted to open the additional beds on site.

“These women, including pregnant women, have managed to stabilise their drug and alcohol use and without access to this facility, they are at serious risk of relapsing.

Every year, Coolmine helps over 1,200 men, women and families impacted by problematic substance abuse, despite budget restraints and the economic downturn over the past seven years.

Chairperson of Coomine TC, Alan Connolly, thanked the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive for an allocation of €100,000 earlier this year, that has allowed them to increase the capacity for women and children at Ashleigh House.

“This is part of an overall renovations project at Ashleigh House that includes work to extend the onsite crèche to cater for more babies and pre-school children next year,” he added

Coolmine Ashleigh House has supported 69 women in residential treatment so far this year. Since January 2015, 53 women have been admitted to residential treatment, including 37 mothers, 13 mother and child admissions, and five maternity transfers.

“This represents an increase of 29 per cent,” said Mr Connolly.