Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Coppinger for bringing forward this motion and for campaigning inside and outside this Chamber, as well as all those people who have joined us today because it is such an important issue. In the last year, we have seen reports of domestic violence to the Garda rise by 8% across the State but by 11% in Galway. We have already seen women violently killed in 2025. My thoughts are with those women and the people who love them. Tracking the real incidence of domestic violence is extremely difficult because in many cases it is kept secret or managed privately through whisper networks. It is positive that women are coming forward with their stories and seeking help. This is a public safety issue and women should not be left to carry this burden on their own. Unfortunately, however, we see far too often that women who need help and seek support do not find it. In this Chamber last week, I raised the institutional barriers, specifically around housing, placed by this State in front of women trying to leave domestic abusive situations.

This week, I met another woman who had been in exactly this type of situation. She left a very abusive and violent situation with her six children. This woman had been living in a council property in another county. She left to go to Galway where she had family support, but because of the institutional barriers put in place by this State she was not allowed an intercounty transfer. This meant she had nowhere to go. She had to start a new housing application with Galway City Council, which means she is now only days on the list in a county where you need to be ten years on the list to get a housing solution. This is another barrier erected by the Government and one this Government can change. This woman is now staying in her mother's house with her six children. It is very overcrowded. This is straining their relationship, which further isolates her and weakens her support network. Galway City Council cannot even offer her emergency accommodation because it is full. This woman told me she is thinking of returning to the abusive relationship because she has no other option. This is absolutely horrifying, but it is a barrier that is placed by the State in front of women. This situation needs to be changed. The Minister of State has the power to do that, so do it.

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