The number of domestic violence cases handled by the Longford Women's Centre more than doubled last year. The centre handled 81 cases in 2001, compared with 30 in 2000. It also noted a major increase in the number of queries concerning domestic violence.
Ms Tess Murphy, centre manager, said the increase in figures reflected a greater awareness of the services available. "It's not that the violence is just happening now. Many of these people have been living in the situation for years," she said.
Ms Murphy said it took, on average, seven attempts before a victim of domestic violence eventually left the situation.
She said there was no "typical" victim - the centre dealt with queries from women in their teens and their 70s.
While the majority of calls came from the Longford area, women in Roscommon, Cavan and Meath have also sought help from the centre.
"We hear about some extremely difficult situations where women have no access to money or the family car," Ms Murphy said. "Their whole lives are controlled, their whole lives are spent walking on eggshells, afraid they will upset their partner."
While it was hard for Irish women to seek help, asylum-seekers had even greater difficulties because of their isolation, different customs and distance from home, she said.
Demand for the centre's counselling helpline also increased significantly in the past year. For the first three months of this year, 235 people contacted the helpline. This contrasts with 72 for the same period last year.
The helpline offers counselling from a psychotherapist on a range of issues but domestic violence is a recurring theme.
Ms Murphy said 11 women and 25 children from Longford used the Athlone Women's Refuge last year. The lack of transitional housing for families in this situation was a major problem. Some women had returned to a violent domestic situation because they had nowhere else to go.
The Athlone Women's Refuge is the main women's refuge in the midlands. It can cater for four families in four units. A spokeswoman said the lack of transitional housing meant that some women and families had to stay for up to three months at the refuge because they had nowhere else to go. This put pressure on space and was not fair on the mothers or children because of the transient nature of the centre.
She said there had been an increase in the number of women admitted to the refuge with "extenuating circumstances" in recent times. As well as dealing with the domestic violence issues, staff were dealing with mental-health problems, child protection issues and alcohol or substance abuse.
Meanwhile, Amen, the support group for male victims of domestic violence, has said it cannot cope with the demand for its refuge for men in Navan, Co Meath.
"Sos Beag" is a three-bedroom house with six beds. Since it opened almost two years ago, demand for accommodation has been constant, according to Amen co-ordinator Ms Mary Cleary.
More than 100 men have used the service. The centre is receiving funding from Meath County Council and Ms Cleary said other councils should follow their lead.
Ms Cleary said the house was accommodating men from all over the State and this was not practical as people were long distances from their workplace. If every county council could provide even one house, it would make a major difference, she said.
Amen has sought funding from the Department of the Environment to build a bigger centre in Meath which would also cater for children where necessary.
• The Longford Women's Centre helpline is 043 42891 from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. Amen can be contacted at 046 23718.