Up to 25 young mothers in Galway may have to drop out of education this month, following the announcement that a service providing information and funding has closed.

The Galway Young Mothers in Education Project closed its doors on Monday due to lack of funding, despite several impassioned pleas to the Department of Education. Core funding has not been renewed after nine years of service to over 200 young mothers and their children.

"I can't believe it has actually happened. I'm very shocked and upset at the moment; I really didn't think it would come to this after nine years. The phone has been ringing non-stop since the announcement. These girls are shocked and scared and they just don't know what to do without the support of the project. They need that one-on-one support. The women who are already in college for a year or two will probably be OK but the ones that are starting off will find it very difficult and some will fall through the cracks in the system," said the project co-ordinator, Eleanor Clancy.

"I don't think there is much of a chance that the project will be reopened unless they come back to us with good news in the next couple of weeks. It takes such a small amount of money to fund this badly needed service and it will cost so much more when they eventually have to set it up again. It's a very sad day for us all," she added.

Representatives met with Minister of State Sean Haughey in Leinster House on Wednesday 12 March and lobbied strongly for the Department to reinstate the funding it received for the three years prior to 2007. There are 60 young mothers currently involved in the project, some of whom may not be able to continue their education without the support that the service provides.

The Galway Young Mothers in Education project was set up in 1999 to support young mothers in the West side of the city and help them to remain in or return to education. The group provided information and financial support for young mothers who wished to complete second-level, third-level and PLC courses in the city. Up until last year, the group had been receiving funding from the Department of Education but without warning, they were notified in December that they would not be receiving funding for 2007.