Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thought the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, would be here, but I understand that people cannot necessarily be everywhere. I was going to start by saying that I know she has a strong track record on this issue and that she is genuinely committed to it.

The reason I wanted to raise this matter is, in the first instance, because I have an interest in it. I do a lot of work locally with various people trying to flee domestic violence relationships, as I am sure many other Deputies do. I have tied in a lot with our refuge, Amber, which is based in County Kilkenny but which has also covered County Carlow for several years. To be honest, I was really angry last week looking at the news. I will not get into any individual cases, but there have been two situations in the news with women's bodies being discovered. It would appear that these were domestic homicide situations. This seems to be a constant in our news. I nearly feel that people are becoming desensitised to this because it happens so regularly. Already in 2023, five women have been killed violently. In the vast majority of these cases, it is by somebody known to them. Last year, one of the worst years on record, 13 women were killed. It is June - it is not even the end of the month - and five women have been killed. If this continues, 2023 will be the worst year on record.

Women's Aid launched its annual report today. There has been a huge increase in demand for services. Part of me welcomes that because it means people are coming forward, speaking out and pursuing their cases. However, the existing services must be supported. I know and expect part of the answer will be around the new strategy and all of the work in terms of having one agency situated in the Department of Justice, all of which I welcome. In the interim, however, there must be serious, urgent and emergency measures taken. I can give a few examples. The refuges we currently have and the services which support mainly women - I know men suffer domestic violence as well but it is mainly women - must be given additional funding where they are overstretched. I often hear in this Chamber and in other quarters that the issue is being taken seriously and the Government is doing its best, which I do not doubt, but then I see our local service fundraising or hoping to get a grant for works that might cost €30,000 or €40,000. If we are taking this issue so seriously, why are we not providing them with that funding? I understand the reason about one agency and it being in the Department of Justice, which I welcome, but there must be urgent interim and emergency measures now. I also think there must be consultation with the groups in relation to what emergency measures we should take now to highlight this issue and to examine what can be done while we wait for the strategy to be implemented and for the agency to be set up.

I also wish to question the position with regard to capital funding. It seems that this comes from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, is administered by Tusla and also kind of lies with the Department of Justice. Where is the funding for this service? The refuge in Wexford costs €6.5 million. As I understand it, only €2 million was set aside for all capital projects relating to refuges last year. That means we will not even get one full refuge this year. Nine counties do not have any refuges.

I wish to also mention issues around barriers to housing, step-down housing and education. I will do so with my supplementary contribution. I wanted to raise this issue because I was angry looking at those reports and at the so-called supports that will be put in place for these alleged perpetrators.

Where are the supports for those families and those children left without mothers? I can guarantee they are not there or not as plentiful as we are being led to believe.

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