Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 26 May 1994

Vol. 443 No. 3

Written Answers. - Family Support Services.

Liz O'Donnell

Question:

24 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Health the number of refuges in each of the respective health boards; the plans, if any, he is making to ensure that each health board provides adequate refuge facilities for women and children seeking to flee domestic violence; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Desmond J. O'Malley

Question:

55 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for Health the number of refuges in each of the respective health boards; the plans, if any, he is making to ensure that each health board provides adequate refuge facilities for women and children seeking to flee domestic violence; and if he will make a statement on this matter.

Liz O'Donnell

Question:

141 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Health the number of refuges in each of the health boards; the plans, if any, he is making to ensure that each health board provides adequate refuge facilities for women and children seeking to flee domestic violence; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

144 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that funding is set aside for crisis organisations such as Women's Aid so that there is no need for them to be continually begging for funds.

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

148 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health if he has satisfied himself with the level of counselling services available to families where there is domestic violence.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 55, 141, 144 and 148 together.

As I have indicated on previous occasions, I regard the provision of refuges and other services for victims of domestic violence as an important component of the network of child care and family support services being developed under the Child Care Act.

Health Boards have, for a number of years, provided financial and other assistance to voluntary agencies who provide services for victims of domestic violence.

There are a total of 16 centres providing refuge accommodation for victims of domestic violence nationally and I am having a table giving details of this accommodation by health board area circulated in the Official Report.

The level of financial support provided by the health boards to women's refuges nationally is about £800,000 which represents almost 90 per cent of the total amount spent on women's refuges.

Last year I approved the provision of additional resources for victims of domestic violence and for the appointment of additional social workers and child care workers to provide support to families in difficulty. This included the provision of a capital grant of £60,000 for the purchase of a premises in Letterkenny for use as a women's refuge. It also included the development of a new service providing accommodation for victims of domestic violence to be located at Castlebar.

However, I remain concerned about the adequacy of services and supports available for victims of domestic violence and it is my intention that further improvements will be made this year in services for this particularly vulnerable group from the additional moneys set aside for the implementation of the Child Care Act.

Finally I might mention that my colleague Ms Joan Burton, Minister of State at the Department of Social Welfare has arranged a seminar for 26 and 27 May to provide an opportunity for representatives of the various refuges to meet to discuss matters of mutual concern.

Health Board Area	Name of Refuge	Governing Body
Eastern Health Board Area	Women's Refuge, RathminesAoibhneas, BallymunBray Women's RefugeRegina Coeli HostelHaven House	Eastern Health BoardVoluntary CommitteeVoluntary CommitteeLegion of MaryEastern Health Board
Midland Health Board Area	Esker House	Athlone Social Services Council
Mid-Western Health Board Area	Adapt Refuge, Limerick	Voluntary Committee
North-Eastern Health Board Area	Meath Women's Refuge, Navan	Voluntary Committee
North-Western Health Board Area	Sligo Social Services Council Refuge	Sligo Social Services Council
South-Eastern Health Board Area	Oasis Hostel,Waterford. St. Anthony's Hostel, KilkennySt. Vincent de Paul Hostel, Wexford	Voluntary CommitteeSt. Vincent de PaulSt. Vincent de Paul
Southern Health Board Area	Cuan LaoiEdel House	Voluntary CommitteeGood Shepherd Sisters
Western Health Board Area	Waterside Hostel, Galway	Galway Social Services Council