Noel Dempsey
Ceist:22 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Health the action, if any, he intends to take on foot of the policy document for women's refuges which was recently launched by the National Federation for Women's Refuges. [3154/95]
Vol. 451 No. 7
22 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Health the action, if any, he intends to take on foot of the policy document for women's refuges which was recently launched by the National Federation for Women's Refuges. [3154/95]
24 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Health his response to the pre-budget submission from Women's Aid outlining plans for the support and care of abused women and children: and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1996/95]
28 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Health, in view of the escalating rates and seriousness of domestic violence, if he intends to make more funds and resources available for the establishment of new refuges. [1997/95]
51 Miss Flaherty asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that were turned away from refuges for victims of family violence in the years 1993 and 1994; and the plans, if any, he has for expanding the service and reducing these figures. [1919/95]
, Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 24, 28 and 51 together.
I have studied the policy document that the National Federation of Refuges for Abused Women and their Children have recently launched. It makes a number of important recommendations for tackling the problem of domestic violence. In so far as my own area of responsibility is concerned, I fully recognise the essential role of women's refuges as a key element in the range of support services required to address this problem. I am particularly conscious of the fact that, while comprehensive information on the number of women who are unable to obtain accommodation in women's refuges is not available, there does appear to be a shortfall in the overall level of provision. For this reason my Department has asked the federation to prepare detailed costings of the relevant recommendations contained in their policy document. I have also arranged to have the policy document made available to all health boards for urgent consideration in the context of the preparation of their service plans for 1995.