Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)

Why was no additional allocation provided for frontline organisations responding to violence against women in the 2006 budget and Finance Act? Frontline services are trying to operate with the same funding they were allocated in 2002. These services are essential for women and families. Between 1996 and 2002, 115 women were murdered in Ireland. They were ordinary women — mothers, grandmothers, sisters, daughter — of all ages. Given the awful effects of domestic violence, a national strategy for women is needed as well as resources to address the acute funding crisis being experienced by organisations that respond to violence against women and that work with women trying to rebuild their lives. This is a national issue and it is estimated an additional €7 million will be needed this year to deal with it.

WAVES Women's Support Services, a community-based organisation in Sligo, Leitrim and west Cavan, was established in 2004 to provide essential frontline services to women experiencing domestic violence. Prior to this, no dedicated service was in place for such women in the region and many women had nowhere to go to access support, information and advocacy. WAVES provides a free and confidential service to women throughout the area and its workers are specially trained and supported to respond to women at risk. The group has five staff but the funding for one of the workers will run out in less than 12 months. WAVES cannot cope with the number of women and families who need their help. The organisation wants to advertise its services to women in the area who live in terror and who are at risk of abuse and violence daily, but it is stretched. It is a dreadful that the organisation knows that people need help, information, services, advocacy, security and support and it could deliver this. However, it is helpless because it is working at capacity and knows much more needs to be done.

WAVES works in partnership with the Health Service Executive which provides core funding and full support. However, the Government has not increased funding in this area since 2002 and, therefore, the HSE north west region has been unable to respond effectively to the needs of WAVES and other frontline organisations. In 2005, WAVES dealt with 2,811 support calls from women experiencing violence and abuse and received 76 requests for emergency and long-term accommodation but was only able to address 29 cases. What happened to the other 47?

Much of Sligo, Leitrim and west Cavan is quite rural and, therefore, outreach services are needed for women. WAVES is endeavouring to provide services to women wherever possible but, given the failure to increase resources and the threat of losing staff, women living in isolated areas are being discriminated against because they do not receive a service. The position is dire. In 2006 the organisation's projected expenditure is approximately €34,000 more than its projected income and, therefore, it is in trouble. There is a four to five week waiting list to meet a member of staff one-to-one, despite many women not even knowing the service exists.

This is an emergency for women experiencing violence in Sligo, Leitrim and west Cavan. I ask the Minister of State to provide additional funding because it is not too late. Approximately €7 million is needed nationwide. A fraction of that amount would address the problem in my area.

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