40% surge in women turned away from refuges

THERE was a massive 40% increase in the number of times women and children were turned away from domestic violence refuges last year, compared with 2009.

Figures released by Safe Ireland show that 1,993 women and 2,355 children were admitted to refuges last year. On 3,236 occasions, however, women were turned away because the refuge was full or there was no refuge in their area and, in 3,004 cases, children were involved. In 2009, there were 2,341 occasions where refuges were unable to accommodate women and their children.

Women also made over 100 calls a day last year — 38,629 in total, to all helplines throughout the country.