Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 3 Jun 1993

Vol. 431 No. 8

Written Answers. - Provision of Women's Refuges.

Mary Flaherty

Question:

90 Miss Flaherty asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the serious inadequacies of provision for refuges throughout the country; and the huge disparity in means of funding; and the plans, if any, he has to address the situation.

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

118 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health the guidelines, if any, which have been issued to health boards in relation to the level of financial support per place to be provided to women's refuges; the steps health boards are to take to ensure the adequacy of provision both in terms of quantity and quality; and the steps, if any, to be taken to rectify the situation where no refuge places exist.

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

119 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health the number of refuge places for women victims of domestic violence provided with the support of State funds in each community care area; the number of places available to accompanying children of such women; the names of the organisations providing the accommodation in each case; the level of State funding provided in 1992 in the case of each refuge; and the number and qualifications of staff employed in each of these refuges.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 90, 118 and 119 together.

The level of financial support provided by health boards to voluntary bodies, including womens refuges, is a matter for decision by the boards, having regard to the funds available and the competing demands from other services.

I am concerned about the adequacy of services and supports, including emergency accommodation, currently available for the victims of domestic violence. I intend to improve the current provision in the context of the additional funding now being made available for the implementation of the Child Care Act, 1991. I regard such refuges as a key component of the network of child care and family support services needed to underpin the Act.

I attach a table setting out the information requested by Deputy Fitzgerald in relation to the number of refuge and hostel places currently available for women victims of family violence and their children.

Refuge/ Hostel	Authority	Number of Places for Women	Number of Places for Children	Health Board Funding in 1992	Number/ Qualifications of Staff
Eastern Health Board
Women's Refuge, Rathmines	Eastern Health Board	10	30	£205,290	11.5	1 Manager2 Asst. Managers2 Counsellors2 Child Workers1 House Advisor 3.5 Refuge Workers
Aoibhneas Women's Refuge, Ballymun	Voluntary Committee	4-6	9-11	£75,000	6.5	1 Director1 Administrator (p/t)5 Refuge Workers/ Counsellors
Bray Women's Refuge	Voluntary Committee	2	4-6	£5,000	1 Refuge Worker
Regina Coeli Hostel	Legion of Mary	17	34	£29,000(EHB also provide premises rent free — no staff costs arise)	12 (Rota of 80 volunteers)
Haven House	Eastern Health Board	6	24	£201,960	8.5	1 Supervisor2 Asst. Supervisors 1.5 Counsellors4 Attendants
North-Eastern Health Board
Meath Womens Refuge, Navan	Voluntary Committee	5-8	12-17	£29,048	1 Supervisor7 Care Workers (p/t)14 Volunteers1 Social Worker (p/t)1 Psychologist
Mid-Western Health Board
Adapt Refuge, Limerick	Voluntary Committee	11	50	£28,500	1 Administrator (SRN)1 House Manager1 Housekeeper1 Night Supervisor1 Playroom Worker1 Secretary/ Receptionist2 Weekend Supervisors (p/t)2 Social Workers (1 p/t)
Midland Health Board
Athlone Community Social Services Council	Athlone Social Services Council	1	9	£30,000	2 Care Staff
Southern Health Board
Cuan Laoi Cork	Voluntary Committee	7	35-40	£23,000	4	2 Nuns1 Nurse1 Teacher
Edel House Night Shelter (Sometimes used for refuge purposes)	Good Shepard Sisters	27-30	13-14	£9,500	6	2 Nuns4 Volunteers
North-Western Health Board
Sligo Social Services Refuge Council	Sligo Social Services	4	10	£5,000	1 SupervisorNWHB SocialWorkers Assist.

No women's refuge exists at present in Donegal. However, the NWHB has provided assistance to a Women's Aid Group established two years ago and is assisting them to establish a refuge in the future. In 1992, the Board provided £8,000 and administrative support to the Group.

South-Eastern Health Board
Oasis Hostel, Waterford	Voluntary Committee	9	21	£16,200	1 Supervisor1 Care Worker1 Social Worker26 Volunteers
St. Anthony's Hostel, Kilkenny	St. Vincent de Paul	6	4		1 Supervisor
St. Vincent de Paul Hostel, Wexford	St. Vincent de Paul	5	—	£1,500	S.V.D.P. Volunteers
Western Health Board
Waterside Hostel, Galway	Galway Social Services Council	9	30	£59,090Also £12,000 from Galway Corporation	5.3	(WTE figures) 0.5 Supervisor1 Asst. Supervisor1 Child Care Worker 0.3 Volunteers 0.5 Relief Workers

* The South-Eastern Health Board use facilities at Adapt House, Limerick for victims of domestic violence. The SEHB makes an annual contribution of £3,250 in respect of this service.

** The South-Eastern Health Board occasionally refer victims of domestic violence to Monastery Hostel, Carlow. In 1992 they provided funding of £3,435 for this service.