Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

More than 40,000 calls have been made to Women's Aid and nearly 60,000 domestic abuse calls have been registered in the Garda PULSE system. These are indefensibly high numbers and are getting higher year on year. Many victims who experience domestic, sexual and gender-based violence have nowhere to go except back to their abuser. We often hear that it can take up to eight attempts to leave. The Council of Europe 2021 guidelines mandate a refuge place for every 10,000 people, which equals 510 for the country. In the same year, we only had 163 in the entire Irish State. Cuan's promise to double our capacity will leave Ireland woefully behind our international obligations. It will see no additional capacity for County Clare. I am dealing with a lady called Sharon who has two children aged four and two. She has spent 22 days in the Clare Haven Services refuge, which I would like to commend. As it points out, for every woman in a refuge, there is another waiting to come in. I also engaged with the homeless action team. It is aware of the case and is doing everything it can but it is in crisis when it comes to capacity.

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