A HOSTEL which caters to homeless children in Dublin city is set to close permanently next year due to funding issues.
Lefroy House, on Eden Quay in Dublin City Centre, is run by the Salvation Army and has assisted homeless minors for almost two decades.
It provides emergency accommodation for minors aged between 12 and 18, offering them a place to sleep if they are homeless or unable to return to family.
The Nightlife hostel for children, and several supported apartments for young people aged 17 and 18, now face permanent closure due to "significant shortfalls in the operating budget".
In a notice sent to staff and seen by The Irish Times, it was noted that the children's hostel had been in discussion with Tusla for four years over budget issues, and no agreement had been reached over "significant" and unsustainable costs.
The supported apartments have been de-commisioned by the children's agency Tusla, and the seven-bed hostel will also close as "The Salvation Army has determined that it is no longer viable to deliver the Nightlife service".
The notice sent to staff warned that "all staff assigned to the Nightlife service ... your role is at risk of termination".
A spokesperson for Tusla told The Irish Times they hope the emergency hostel will continue under new service providers, and that discussions are underway in this regard.
