Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom mo chomhbhrón a dhéanamh le clann agus le muintir Sally Rowlette as a bás. Sílim go bhfuil sé tábhachtach, agus Saolta ag seoladh an tuairisc i dtaobh cás Savita Halappanavar inniu, go mbeadh díospóireacht againn maidir le cúrsaí máithreachais.

I wish to add to the note of condolences to Sally Rowlette and all her family and friends. As the report into the case of Savita Halappanavar is to be launched in Galway at 5 p.m. today, it would be timely for us to have a debate on maternity services.

I agree it is important for us to highlight the 16 days of action opposing violence against women in the context of domestic violence in our country and the responses to it. We have already called for a debate on that matter.

Domestic Violence Response, DVR, is an advocacy telephone support service in Galway that gives one-to-one information to women and children. I note, however, that its funding is wholly inadequate to meet its needs. Last year, 500 calls for their helpline were missed. An average of more than 50 calls per month were missed this year because there are insufficient staff in the office to respond when such calls come in. The women describe the service as a lifeline that has kept them alive. It is unacceptable to provide minuscule amounts of funding to address domestic violence. Some €75,000 was provided to the DVR service in 2014, but women and children in Galway deserve better than that.

The latest national statistics from SAFE Ireland show that more than 3,424 children received support from domestic violence services in 2013. They included 2,699 children who lived in a refuge and 140 children who lived in transitional housing. In total, 2,787 children were admitted to refuges in 2013. Some 1,074 children were less than four years old, including 231 children who were one year or younger, and 149 children aged between 15 and 18.

No more than the housing crisis and other crises we have seen, do we have to wait for a tragedy to happen before we focus on this issue? We have called for this debate previously. It is imperative because current funding is insufficient to cater for those who badly need those services. Sadly, this issue becomes the focus of attention again around Christmas so I urge the Leader to arrange a debate on domestic violence as soon as possible.