A large vacant building in Ballinasloe is set to be turned into a domestic refuge for women and children.
Galway County Council has signaled its intention to purchase the former St. Brigid's nurses’ home which is owned by the HSE.
The Health Service Executive formally started the process this month while there is no confirmed timeframe the purchase will be made in conjunction with the Municipal District in the coming months. Galway County Council say the county as a whole is over reliant on the city for support services and Ballinasloe is ideally placed with a hospital, train and motorway to support a significant regional service of this nature.
The Housing and Justice Departments as well as Safe Ireland and the approved housing bodies will work with the local authority to deliver the project.
Councillor Dr. Evelyn Francis Parsons is welcoming the progress and says it's positive the council has given a commitment to the acquisition. She says it's also the first step to provide the first and much needed domestic violence refuge in the Galway County Council administrative area.
