Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to today's debate on this very important issue. Since the onset of the pandemic it became quickly apparent that domestic violence services were under intense pressure. Safe Ireland recently published a new report, Tracking the Shadow Pandemic, which affirmed this.

The report showed that a total of 3,450 women and 589 children who had never contacted a domestic violence service before looked for support and safety from abuse and coercive control during the first six months of Covid-19, from March to August. I also understand that recent figures released by the Department show there has a been a 14% increase in the number of domestic abuse incidents reported to the Garda in 2020. In my own county of Cork, in the first eight months of this year, 910 domestic violence cases were reported in the Cork city division, an 11% increase on the previous year; 448 cases were reported in the Cork north division, an increase of approximately 20%; and the figure in the Cork west division increased to 254 cases, an increase of almost 42%. Although we do not yet have the year-end figures, unfortunately the total figure is likely to increase. The Director of Public Prosecutions stated there has been an 87% increase so far this year in the number of files submitted to her office related to domestic violence or the breach of a court order.

The Safe Ireland CEO, Ms Mary McDermott, highlighted the enormous strain on services throughout the country during the first lockdown and, unfortunately, that has continued throughout the second lockdown. She states: "The study exposes, yet again, patterns of domestic violence heightened by this pandemic." She also stated that, on average, there are 191 women and 288 children staying in domestic violence accommodation each month. It is my understanding that 1,351 requests were made for refuge, or seven requests per day, and these could not be met as there was no space. I know the Government has committed to making domestic violence a priority, and the Taoiseach stated previously that funding would not and should not be an issue. However, I am concerned that for the organisations on the ground, none of this has been backed up with the resources and infrastructure a modern organisation needs. I ask the Minister to commit to providing the additional funding and resources to ensure victims and their children are supported.

Safe Ireland was gravely disappointed with the lack of targeted provisions in budget 2021 for women and children dealing with violence and abuse. As legislators, this is something we need to review next year, given the demand and strain on these services throughout the pandemic.

I take the opportunity to commend the dedication and commitment shown by organisations, like Safe Ireland, that have been operating under very difficult circumstances. As I mentioned, the refuges were inundated but, as the CEO of Safe Ireland stated, services worked creatively to find alternative accommodation in the community. They provide a vital service and this pandemic has highlighted the importance of the work they do. In addition, great credit must be given to Garda programmes, like Operation Faoiseamh, which have helped to protect the most vulnerable in our society.

The programme for Government contains a number of commitments in regard to domestic violence and sexual abuse. There are numerous commitments, including the development of a third national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, the conduct of an immediate audit to be concluded within nine months of the formation of Government, the implementation of a plan for future refuge space, the publication of a review of domestic violence accommodation provision, and other aims such as to adopt and implement a comprehensive strategy to combat the trafficking of women and girls. I urge the Minister to take action on these immediately.

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