Midlands/North-West MEP Maria Walsh is appealing to the Minister for Finance to protect vulnerable women in Ireland by ensuring substantial funding is ringfenced for additional refuge centres and supports across the country. Speaking ahead of tomorrow's Budget, the Fine Gael MEP said she has seen the great work being carried out by many organisations but they are in desperate need of more help from the Government.
She highlighted her recent visits to facilities in Monaghan, Longford and Westmeath and pointed to how Ireland does not currently have the space to meet the Istanbul Convention standard on domestic abuse refuges, with nine counties having no refuges at all.
Ms Walsh says that centres for women in crisis are absolutely crucial and when these services are not available, the isolation that many women face is unacceptable. She added that if women are left with no choice but to travel long distances, and in some cases outside their county, to get to the closest domestic refuge centre, it raises "very real and genuine" safety fears for them.
"Sadly, more and more women no longer feel safe when they're out for a walk, or waiting for a bus or a lift home," the local MEP continued. "For many, however, it's at home where their worst fears become real. We need to step up and protect the women of Ireland, and to provide sufficient safe spaces and services. I am urging the Finance Minister and my colleagues in Government to make this a top priority in Tuesday's Budget."
Meanwhile, according to Ms Walsh, the death toll of women killed in violent circumstances in 2022 was the highest in 10 years. She says that Garda statistics published towards the end of last year, indicate that 52% of murders during the previous two years had a domestic violence motivation.
"The Women's Aid Annual Impact Report for 2022 detailed 31,229 contacts with its national and regional support services last year," Ms Walsh continued. "There was a 16% increase in contacts compared to the previous year and the highest ever received by the organisation in its almost 50-year history.
"During these contacts, 33,990 disclosures of domestic abuse were made, including 5,412 reports of abuse of children."
