Women affected by domestic violence need more refuge places to turn to, Seanad told

» John Hedges

An Phoblacht Editor

600 women and children were supported by COPE services but the refuge was unable to accommodate another 214 women with 319 children

THE 1 in 5 Irish women affected by domestic violence must be assured there are enough refuges and help centres for them and their children, Sinn Féin Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh has told the Seanad.

Senator Ó Clochartaigh (right) reminded the Seanad that the Council of Europe sets out a recommendation of at least 1 refuge place per 10,000 of population “and the Government are way off that target”.

The Sinn Féin junior spokesperson on Justice was speaking on a Labour Party motion on domestic violence.

He told senators:-

• SAFE Ireland recorded in 2010 that more than 7,235 individual women and 2,850 individual children received support from domestic violence support services, a 40% increase over three years;
• The Rape Crisis Network Ireland in 2011 said there was an 11% increase from 2010 in survivors and others seeking counselling and support from their specialist services, on top of a 9% rise in 2009;
• The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre reports that calls to its National 24-Hour Helpline increased by nearly 10% in 2011, up 25% since 2008.

In Galway, he said, over 600 women and children were supported through both the refuge and outreach services of COPE in 2012, and 86 women were accompanied to court for legal protection orders. “However, the refuge was unable to accommodate another 214 women with 319 children, a considerable number.”

The Government has responded to the rising demands not by addressing the problem and adding additional supports but by introducing further cuts, Trevor Ó Clochartaigh said.

“The increase in people being supported by Safe Ireland coincided with a 35% cut to their funding over this time and the increase in calls to the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre also coincided with a further reduction in the statutory funding they received from the HSE.

“That is simply not good enough and Sinn Féin are calling on the Government to return to at least pre-Budget 2013 levels of funding.”