Vol. 441 No. 5
186 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Aoibhneas refuge in Ballymun, Dublin 11, was obliged to turn away almost 500 children during 1993 due to lack of resources; and the plans, if any, he has to ensure that all refuges are adequately funded.
I understand from the Eastern Health Board that figures prepared by Aoibhneas appear to show that, during 1993, 200 women and 490 children could not be assisted by their service. However, the board have advised me that women and children who needed to be placed in alternative accommodation were provided with assistance by the board through Womens Aid and other refuges and hostels. I accept however, that there is a shortfall in the number of refuge places available in Dublin and I am aware that Aoibhneas have plans to build a larger refuge.
During 1993 the level of financial support provided by the health boards to womens' refuges nationally reached £806,162 which represents almost 90 per cent of the total amount spent on women's refuges during that year. I also approved the provision of additional emergency accommodation for victims of domestic violence in Navan, Castlebar and Letterkenny and the appointment of additional social workers and child care workers to provide support to families in difficulty.
However, I remain concerned about the adequacy of services and supports available for victims of domestic violence and it is my intention that further progress will be made this year towards the improvements of services for this particularly vulnerable group.
187 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health the number of women's refuges throughout the country which have professional child care services available to them; the steps, if any, he intends to take to ensure that such a service is available.
The detailed information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. I have asked the health boards to collate the information and I shall forward it to the Deputy as soon as possible.
