While the Covid-19 pandemic has seen a 59 per cent increase in the number of domestic violence cases reported in Galway, most women in the city and county still live too far from any women’s refuge.
According to Tüsla, everyone should live within a 30-minute drive from the nearest refuge for victims of domestic violence. However, per Tüsla’s review of domestic violence refuge accommodation conducted in 2020 - and still due to come before the Cabinet for discussion - 94,000 people in County Galway live further than the 30-minute limit.
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County Galway has just nine refuge beds, all located in Galway city. Mayo has just five for the whole county, while Roscommon and Sligo have no refuges at all. Together, Galway, Mayo, and Roscommon have just 14 refuge beds for a population of more than 228,000 women.
The figures have led People Before Profit Galway representative, Adrian Curran, to call for the tripling of funding for domestic violence refuges and emergency services, and greater investment in sexual assault treatment units and counselling services for survivors.
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He also pointed out that, under the guidelines of the Istanbul Convention, a Europe-wide mechanism on preventing and combating violence against women, Galway, Mayo, and Roscommon should have at least 46 beds for people fleeing domestic violence. The Tusla review also highlighted Ballinasloe, as one of 22 towns around Ireland, currently without a refuge in particularly urgent need of one."
Mr Curran also called for paid domestic violence leave to be introduced, “as financial dependence is frequently used by abusers” to coerce women from leaving abusive relationships, as well as increases in funding and resources for civil legal aid services for victims.
