‘Gambling with Women and Children’s Safety’

Published: Thursday, December 02, 2010

SAFE Ireland Release of Annual Statistics 2009

7,512 women, 2,462 children supported and over 34,000 helpline calls to domestic violence services in 2009

Ireland is now gambling recklessly with the lives of women and children seeking support for domestic violence said SAFE Ireland, the representative network of domestic violence services.

It announced its latest stark statistics today, half way through the international 16 days of action against violence against women.

In total, 7,512 women and 2,462 children received support from domestic violence services in 2009, an increase of 43% on numbers since 2007. From feedback from members, 2010 is likely to present further large increases in demand for services, SAFE Ireland warned.

More than 1,534 women and 2,334 children were accommodated in refuges. Over the same period, women and children had to be turned away from refuges on 2,341 occasions[1] - a figure that vastly exceeds the number of women who were actually accommodated. In addition, 34,332 helpline calls were answered by domestic violence services. That means that an average of nearly 100 calls for help were made everyday of the year.

Director Sharon O'Halloran said that HSE funding for domestic violence services to be ring-fenced as a matter of urgency. She warned that the combination of increased numbers together with severe service cuts mean that critical supports for at-risk women and children are already at breaking point.

"There seems to be one inevitability or constant in these times of national uncertainty and flux," she said. "That is that the vulnerable will always pay. The government is bailing out on women and children living with violence in their homes."

"With more cuts to the overall HSE budget on the cards, we are looking at a serious knock-on effect for women and children seeking safety and support unless the existing level of funding for domestic violence services is clearly ring fenced," she continued. "Many of our services have already been cut by disproportionate amounts. Most are managing to maintain services, but this can't be guaranteed if budgets are attacked again.

Some SAFE Ireland services have already taken cuts of up to 25% over the past two years with average cuts of between 5 to 10% across the country. These budget cuts have been frontloaded, leaving no leeway for further reductions if even basic support services are to be maintained.


No comfort in numbers in 2009

* 7,512 women received support from domestic violence services.
* 2,462 children received support - and not all children could be recorded.
* 2,253 women admissions to refuges.
* 1,543 women were accommodated and received other supports in refuge.
* 101 women were accommodated and received support in transitional housing.
* 2,334 children were accommodated in refuges.
* 128 children were accommodated in transitional housing.
* Women and children could not be accommodated by refuge on 2,341 occasions.
* There were 34,332 helpline calls answered by domestic violence services throughout the country.


For further information please contact us by phone or email as below.

Kind Regards,


Caitríona Gleeson
Communication & Information Manager
SAFE IRELAND (Formerly NNWRSS)
27 Church St
Athlone
Co Westmeath
0906 479078
087 2037177

Please note the changes to my email and our website address.
caitriona@safeireland.ie
www.safeireland.ie


'Creating Safety for Women and Children'

SAFE IRELAND is the National Representative Body for Frontline Domestic Violence Services in Ireland.

Our members provide a range of services to women and their children who experience violence in intimate relationships.

For a list of SAFE IRELAND member's services and contact details please see our website at www.safeireland.ie

[1] Note this figure is the number of times women had to be turned away, not the number of women.