There has been a long-standing issue regarding the lack of domestic violence refuges in counties Cavan and Monaghan
That's according to local TD Cathy Bennett who raised the issue in the Dail this week. Nine counties still lack refuges and two of them are Cavan and Monaghan.
While Deputy Bennett welcomed that Monaghan and Cavan were identified as a priority for the development of services. She told the Dail to let us be real, however. The fact that these services are badly needed in a community of nearly 150,000 people hardly necessitated the years of analysis, The Sinn Fein local TD posed the question does the Minister of State not agree that it would be prudent that refuge spaces be provided in both counties?
She pointed to the fact that a journey between, for example, Dowra in west Cavan and Castleblayney in east Monaghan would take the best part of two hours by car. The journey would take the best part of a day if a person were to use public transport.
"The Minister for Justice's predecessor set a target of delivering 280 spaces across the State by 2026. This is far shy of the more than 500 places recommended by the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence. Our State has a long history of failing women and children. Much work remains to be done in order to ensure that all women and children in our society are unafraid, without anxiety and free to enjoy the safety and security we are all entitled to."
"A starting point must be that where women and children are not safe in their homes or where they experience or have fear of violence and abuse, refuge is available to them. Responsibility in this regard falls on the Government. I genuinely ask it to make real progress and be ambitious as to what it can achieve for survivors of domestic abuse in Ireland.
Does the Minister of State acknowledge that we have to be more ambitious with our targets than was the case with the previous Minister for Justice? As an indication of that ambition, will the current Minister commit to opening a refuge in Cavan and Monaghan which will only be a precursor to delivering adequate refuge services in both counties?"
Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach Deputy Thomas Byrne said in his response said that work is underway to have a location for a refuge in the region.
"Last year, a site selection process for the building of a domestic violence refuge in the Cavan-Monaghan area was started, marking a key step in the delivery of a new domestic violence refuge in the region. In addition to identifying suitable locations for refuge development, the process will focus on identifying potential locations for safe home development, reflecting the strong commitment from all partners to protecting survivors, preventing further victimisation and ensuring they have the stability to rebuild their lives."
"I am aware that the Castleblaney area of Monaghan is supported by a number of Cuan's funded services, including the national 24-hour domestic violence helpline operated by Women's Aid. Outreach supports are provided to the Castleblaney area by Tearmann Domestic Abuse Service, now operating as Safe Ireland Cavan-Monaghan. The TLC Kidz recovery programme is delivered by Barnardos, which supports children recovering from their experience of domestic violence."
