Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 Dec 2000

Vol. 528 No. 1

Written Answers. - Refuge Accommodation.

Nora Owen

Question:

213 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Women's Aid organisation that operates refuges throughout the country is unable to provide an adequate service for the many persons who are victims of domestic violence and who seek shelter in the refuges; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that, in the Eastern Regional Health Authority area, during 1999 approximately 1,100 mothers and children turned up for refuge and only 309 such persons could be accommodated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29376/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The provision of refuge accommodation for victims of domestic violence is a matter, in the first instance, for the relevant health board. In the eastern region the Northern Area Health Board has been assigned administrative responsibility for the refuges and domestic violence support services on behalf of the three area health boards in the Eastern Regional Health Authority. In the ERHA area there are three refuges for women and children who are fleeing violence from their partners-spouses. In these refuges there are a total of 24 units of accommodation for women and children. The Northern Area Health Board is aware that there is a shortage of refuge accommodation and has been working with three voluntary refuge management/development committees towards the creation of an additional three refuges in Newbridge, Tallaght and Blanchardstown. The total number of additional spaces on completion will be 18. The system of recording the number of women and children not admitted to refuges in the ERHA does not eliminate double counting which can lead to confusion. An improved recording system will be introduced in 2001 to rectify this situation. If a woman and children cannot be accommodated in a refuge they are referred to the Northern Area Health Board's homeless persons unit. If they cannot or do not wish to remain in their homes they are offered bed and breakfast accommodation until a refuge space becomes available. In 1999 the total number of women and children accommodated in this way was 53 and the number of individual women accommodated was 18.