Leitrim’s absence of refuge centre exposes gap in domestic violence support

Over half of domestic violence refuge centres nationwide are full, with many women and children staying in these centres for long periods of time due to housing shortages.

Refuges are designed to provide short-term accommodation for women facing emergency situations. They typically consist of small apartments with shared communal areas.

Leitrim is one of nine counties in Ireland that does not have a refuge centre for women and children facing domestic violence. 

Other counties lacking a refuge centre include neighbouring regions such as Cavan, Roscommon, Longford and Sligo as well as Offaly, Carlow, Monaghan and Laois.

This underscores Ireland’s failure to fully implement the Istanbul Convention, which was ratified in 2019, leaving hundreds of women without refuge.

The Istanbul Convention states that there should be one refuge unit for every 10,000 women and girls aged 15 years and over.

In June 2022, the Government published a five-year strategy on zero tolerance against domestic, sexual and gender based violence. The strategy aims to double the number of refuge spaces to 280 by 2026.

However, the Istanbul Convention requires Ireland to have 675 spaces.

In July, Sinn Féin Cllr Róisín Kenny asked senior figures in Leitrim County Council when a refuge centre can be expected in County Leitrim, and if it can be included in the County Development Plan.

In this meeting, she referred to the Government’s five-year strategy as “very welcome, and a very useful document,” but noted that without proper implementation, it would merely remain a piece of paper.

In June, Women’s Aid published their impact report for 2023 which showed record high domestic abuse disclosures of over 40,000.

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This was a jump of 18 percent on the previous year.

“That’s only those who reported to Women’s Aid,” Cllr Kenny said. “It doesn’t include those suffering in silence.” 

Mary Quinn, Director of Housing, Corporate, Community and Cultural Services for Leitrim County Council explained that the Council is waiting for the national strategy to be published.

Once it is, they will review it in detail to understand where their responsibilities may lie with setting up a refuge centre in the county.

The County Development Plan was only recently adopted, so it may be addressed in a further review.

Leitrim’s lack of a refuge centre for women and children facing domestic violence highlights a significant gap in available support services. 

As the Council awaits further guidance, addressing this shortfall will be essential in providing adequate support for those who need it.

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