'No suitable' site to build Laois domestic abuse centre
Hope to build a domestic violence centre for Laois families appears to have faded again with a claim that the right site is still not found.
While last year it was announced that a site in an undisclosed Portlaoise location was in the process of being bought, Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley has said that she does not believe that a suitable site has yet been found.
"I don't believe we have identified a site that is suitable, from what we've seen," she said at the March meeting of Laois County Council
She spoke after a visit to a Galway shelter, describing it as “phenomenal”.
“We went in at 12.30 and weren’t out until 3pm. It is absolutely phenomenal, the service provided. It is an old convent that was gifted. It was a Magdalene laundry.
“It has nine self-contained apartments with en-suites and cooking facilities, and one emergency accommodation room. It is on two acres, a fantastic gated security.
“You drive or walk into a holding area where you can’t get in until they open the gate inside. It’s extremely secure.
“It has a pre-school and a games room and a treatment room. It’s in a built-up area and totally overlooked but there is plenty of privacy. It has 45 staff, I was shocked.
“There are two small graveyards, and lovely gardens. I’d like to acknowledge and thank the staff for giving us nearly three hours of their time to show us around,” she said.
The Galway centre has advice for a future Laois equivalent.
“They told us to be ambitious, to see if we can get a green field site. They’re trying to build on and they say make sure there is space to build on. It was mind boggling, eye opening,” Cllr Dwane Stanley said.
Laois is earmarked by the Government as a priority among nine counties with no refuge. It is promised to get a €1.75m new shelter with eight secure units for families. Women and children escaping domestic abuse in Laois must presently go to shelters in other counties, far from their family, schools and jobs.
Director of Services for Housing, Angela McEvoy accompanied Cllr Dwane Stanley.
“It was a good visit, the invitation is open to other local authorities, to see how the service works,” she said.
The Laois Cathaoirleach Cllr Thomasina Connell said she is making her own visit to the Galway shelter. Cllr Willie Aird said he would also like to go and bring another council staff member to make it an official visit.
The Department of Justice said a planned new national domestic violence agency would assist in the opening of a Laois shelter which had been costed at €1.75 million but it will not change the process of setting up a refuge.
It confirmed that further analysis undertaken identified 12 locations nationwide where the delivery of 98 family refuge spaces would have the most impact if prioritised.
"Portlaoise is one of the priority areas identified and Tusla and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage will be working with local stakeholders to support and expedite the delivery of the new refuge places and associated support services," said the statement issued to the Leinster Express..
Laois Domestic Abuse Service offers support to women experiencing abuse in the home, with an office in Portlaoise. See www.laoisdomesticabuseservice.ie for confidential help or to support them with donations.