People Before Profit Galway representative Adrian Curran is calling for an increase in funding for domestic violence refuges following reports that over a million people in Ireland are living too far from a refuge. A Tusla review of existing domestic violence refuge accommodation which was carried out in 2020 and is due to be discussed at government level found a shocking lack of refuge beds around the country.
Adrian Curran said:
“According to Tusla, everyone should live within a thirty-minute drive from the nearest refuge for victims of domestic violence. However, per Tusla’s review of domestic violence refuge accommodation conducted in 2020, 94,000 people in County Galway live further than the thirty-minute limit. County Galway has just nine refuge beds, all located in Galway city. Mayo has just five for the whole county, while Roscommon and Sligo have no refuges at all. Together, Galway, Mayo and Roscommon have just fourteen refuge beds for a population of over 228,000 women. Under the guidelines of the Istanbul Convention, a Europe-wide mechanism on preventing and combating violence against women, the west should have at least 46 beds for people fleeing domestic violence. The Tusla review also highlights Ballinasloe as one of 22 towns around Ireland currently without a refuge in particularly urgent need of one.”
Mr Curran continues, “The pandemic period has seen a significant increase in domestic violence cases, with Galway City experiencing an increase of 59% according to figures released before Christmas. Urgent funding and resources are needed from government to tackle all aspects of gender-based violence. People Before Profit are calling for the tripling of funding for domestic violence refuges and emergency services, as well as greater investment in sexual assault treatment units and counselling services for survivors. Paid domestic violence leave must be introduced immediately, as financial dependence is frequently used by abusers to coerce women from leaving abusive relationships.
