A Galway group, which helps young mothers get back to education, is still embroiled in negotiations with the government for emergency funding, which would save the project from closure next month.

The Young Mothers in Education project was contacted this week by Minister of State Seán Haughey, who committed to seeking lifeline funding for the group. Project Co-ordinator Eleanor Clancy welcomed the move, saying they were hopeful of a resolution.

"We are staying hopeful and trying to keep the pressure on the government at the moment. Deputy Michael D. Higgins has discussed the issue with the Minister for Education Mary Hanafin and is planning to bring it to the attention of An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern as well, so progress is being made. We have set the deadline of the end of March so if we have not had confirmation of funding before then we will have no option other than closing."

The project have also thanked the St Vincent De Paul society for a generous donation which has contributed to the high costs of childcare for student mothers, up until the end of March. The society has also committed to continue contributing to the project if it is saved from closure.

"We are greatly indebted to St Vincent de Paul for their generous assistance and this funding will help alleviate some of the financial pressure on the student parents involved in this project," said Seamus Kearns, Acting Director of Youth Work Ireland, Galway.

The Galway Young Mothers in Education project was set up in 1999 to support young mothers in the Westside of the city and help them to remain in or return to education. The group provide information and financial support for young mother who wish 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 and possibly, 2008.

Minister for Education Mary Hanafin has refused to review the issue of funding, saying that it would be "inappropriate to support a second initiative in an area which provides a similar service to the same target group". However, Deputy Michael D Higgins blasted the attitude of Minister Hanafin towards the project and said that her reply to his query about the funding was "contradictory" and contained "factual errors".

"The Minister's reply indicated she regarded the project as duplication in light of her Department's funding of teenage parenting support projects. Unfortunately, the facts are different. The Young Mothers in Education Project was in place before the teenage pregnancy project and had a remarkable success rate. At a meeting on Saturday 24 February, many of the mothers who had been through the programme reported on their experience. The mothers in question are aged up to 25 years and are not all teenagers. Some of them are married while others are in different types of relationships. One is enrolled in a PHD in NUI, Galway, while another is doing a masters at the college. Participants are having considerable success," said the Labour President.

"The project could be funded for the period 2007-2008, after which a review could be carried out to determine how it could be integrated with another project. It should not be left without funding as to do so would put 60 mothers and their families at risk of being dumped back into a cycle of poverty. The achievements of the project have been incredibly valuable and it is deeply appreciated."

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