Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

More than half of our domestic violence refuges around the country are full and local refuges are being forced to turn women and children away. Many of those women and children, in turn, have to travel to other parts of the country simply to seek safety. This is happening at a time when the Garda has told us it has received more than 60,000 calls concerning domestic abuse. Last December, the Minister for Justice said 98 refuge units would be delivered by the end of 2025 in the priority areas. Westmeath is deemed a priority area under the Minister's Government's strategy. Last year, Esker House in Athlone, provided emergency refuge accommodation to 28 women and 41 children but received requests from 267 people. This is the only such facility in the midlands. There is no refuge in County Longford.

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