Derek Nolan (Galway West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I wish to thank the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, for coming to Galway last week to visit the COPE premises in Foster Street where it is hoped to establish a new domestic violence refuge. The refuge that COPE operates on the Waterside at Wood Quay was severely damaged by fire and at any one time it can only host a maximum of five families fleeing a lack of safety in their home environment, including violence and other domestic abuse. COPE has been seeking another facility for a long time in order to offer an improved service to more families because the service is under pressure due to capacity constraints.

The Sisters of Mercy who used to operate the Magdalen laundry at the site in Foster Street have handed over that former convent building to COPE. It will be a wonderful recognition of the hurt that was caused for that premises to be used for the liberation of women fleeing terrible domestic violence, instead of for the incarceration of women as in the past. Such women need an opportunity to escape to a suitable refuge. The convent site is in the centre of Galway, just minutes from Eyre Square, yet it is still secluded with the wonderful secure setting behind a wall and with green grass around it. It is an ideal environment. I thank the Minister of State for coming to visit the site last week. Whatever options she may have within the capital budget, I urge her to examine that project. We have a wonderful potential in Galway to offer a proper, dignified service for these vulnerable people by making that vision for a safe women's refuge in Galway city centre a reality.

I also thank the Minister of State for visiting with me one of the only builders currently constructing houses in Galway. They are building at Leargán in Knocknacarra. It is a shocking and worrying development when the third largest city - or the fourth largest because Limerick sometimes argues that it is bigger-----

See this speech in context