Female councillors highlight lack of Laois Domestic Violence Shelter

Additional lands now needed to support development of Domestic Violence Shelter in Laois

Cllr. Catherine Fitzgerald asked Laois County Council (LCC) give an update on the Domestic Violence Refuge for Laois at September’s LCC Monthly Meeting

Irene Delaney (Administrative Officer Laois County Council) :“In November 2023, Laois County Council purchased a 0.7 acre site to facilitate and support the development of a Domestic Violence Refuge in County Laois.”

Irene Delaney (Administrative Officer Laois County Council) : “LDAS and the Department of Housing and Justice requested that the acquisition of an additional 0.3 acres to support the development. The council is seeking to acquire the additional lands. The council is acutely aware of the urgent need for the delivery of a Domestic Violence Refuge within the county and continue to work closely with LDAS, the Housing Agency, _______ and the Department of Justice and the Department of Housing on plans to construct a refuge, including advice on funding such (a) development through the Department of Housing’s Capital Assistance Scheme. The stakeholder steering group will meet in October to progress matters.“

Cllr: Catherine Fitzgerald: “Laois is one of 9 counties that has no domestic refuge. There’s nowhere to go anyway even outside the county because (of the demand). They can’t meet the demands. There’s an awful lack of accommodation and it’s potentially a deadly situation.”

Cllr: Catherine Fitzgerald: “Leaving is already hard enough for any women in this situation. And when we have nowhere to offer them locally. And (we) ask them to move _________ women and children to leave their own area. And that means, you know, like, children leaving their schools, leaving their friends, the women leave losing their own neighbors and family. So I just think it’s absolutely scandalous where we are now. And I personally stated I was against the site that was purchased.“

Cllr: Catherine Fitzgerald: “It was a protected structure (that was purchased). I said all along, the women in Laois are going to suffer for longer and longer and longer. There’s other sites, greenfield sites that were available. And now we need more land.”

Cllr: Catherine Fitzgerald: “How long is that going to go on? Can the landlord; whoever owns that site, hold us to ransom? When will it ever be built? But at the end of the day, it’s these women that are suffering. And we’re coming up to Christmas, and we have this debate every year.”

Cllr: Catherine Fitzgerald: “We say it at Christmas. The domestic abuse figures rise. And where are we in Laois again? We have nowhere to offer a woman in Laois. Nowhere for her children (as well). And I just think iit’s a sad situation that we have ended up in. And I’m going to say as well that going back years ago, (Former Councillor) Mary Sweeney and myself were on the board when they started, and then we’re told that councillors weren’t wanted (on the board).

Cllr: Catherine Fitzgerald: “So I’m very worried about the future for Laois women because there’s nowhere to go. And I really feel with this protected structure that even if we get the land, god knows where we could end up with other objections and everything else. Even if we can get the land, there’s no guarantee we’re gonna be able to buy that land. That’s a private developer. We’re at his beck and call.“

Cllr: Catherine Fitzgerald: “They’re saying they can’t go ahead and ask to get that land. And even if we do get the land, I believe there’d be objections as well in the locality. I said (at) the start, I didn’t agree with the site. I went ahead with it because it was everyone else going ahead with it and everyone said this is the only site that that we can get agreement on. But here we are and this is it. We have another Christmas.”

Cllr: Catherine Fitzgerald: “Christmas is horrendous and here we go again. And I can guarantee you unless something drastically changes, we’ll be here next Christmas with nowhere for the women of Laois to go to and nowhere for them to get help. And I’m asking now, if there is not an agreement on this land or extra land that is required, can we look at another site and start from a greenfield site? Is that possible?“

Cllr. Caroline Dwane Stanley: “Look, I agree with most of what Catherine (Cllr. Fitzgerald) said, but not everything. What I would say is that, absolutely, you’re correct that we’re one of 9 counties that doesn’t have the service, and Offaly is another one. So it means automatically when women and children have to go out of the county, they’re not even able to go as near as Offaly. They have to go completely out of (the area).“

Cllr. Caroline Dwane Stanley: “It’s only if there’s a serious risk to their lives that they have to go. Most people want to remain in the county because they have the children in school. They have their family support. They have their friends and everything. But, I don’t disapprove of the current site.“