Call for more resources to tackle domestic violence

Some 83 per cent of frontline services dealing with victims of domestic violence do not have enough resources, the director of Women's Aid said yesterday.

Speaking at the launch of the group's "manifesto" for election 2007, Margaret Martin said during a time of plenty the Government's poor record on domestic violence was something to be ashamed of.

"One hundred women have been killed in the State since the current Coalition took power, and almost half of the resolved cases show women were murdered by a partner or ex-partner. How many women's deaths does it take to shift a culture of neglect?"

She said many services, including the Women's Aid helpline, had received no budget increase since 2002 and, despite the allocation made in the 2007 Budget, endured chronic underfunding. "We need a commitment to the long-term development of services; secure, multi-annual funding to ensure we can respond to every woman in danger."

Joanna Fortune, from Bray Women's Refuge, said they had turned away 369 women and over 500 children in 2006 because they were already full. The refuge serves the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and Wicklow County Council areas. "We only have four family rooms and one single room," said Ms Fortune.

"Part of the problem is there is no second-stage accommodation for women and their families to move on to; as a result they may spend months with us. We need second-stage accommodation and a refuge is also needed for the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown area."

Protection, Provision, Prevention: A Manifesto to End Domestic Violence calls for an increase in the budget for frontline services by €2.5 million and specific resources to ensure marginalised groups, such as disabled, black and minority women, can access those services.

It calls for an amendment to the Domestic Violence Act 1996. Under current legislation some cohabitees are not eligible to apply for barring and protection orders. It also calls for training for the judiciary and legal personnel.

The manifesto calls for a strategy to raise awareness of the issues, resources to research domestic violence in Ireland, and a programme in schools addressing domestic violence and healthy relationships.