Laois domestic abuse centre on track to build eight safe family units

There is no delivery date on a long awaited domestic violence shelter for Laois mothers, but finally definite progress.

Laois Domestic Abuse Service (LDAS) is partnered with Sophia Housing to deliver the essential emergency shelter.

It has now reached funding application stage.

The centre will be based in a listed residential building in Portlaoise town centre.

Marna Carroll is service director of LDAS and she gave an update to the Leinster Express / Laois Live this week.

"We've started the formal process for applying for funding through CAS 1. We are waiting for feedback on that.

"We are so happy to be partnered with the Sophia Housing approved housing body. They are so wonderful to work with. They are so supportive and knowledgeable and generous. Through them the application has gone in," she explains.

The centre will have eight secure units for mothers and their children, safe from abusive partners. They will be built to the rear of what is a listed building in Portlaoise. The building will then offer all of the services of Laois Domestic Abuse Service, such as counselling rooms. 

The project has barely moved on since Laois County Council bought the building for the service in 2023 for €1.75m. A plan to buy extra land at the back was eventually scrapped but had delayed the process. Portlaoise councillors recently criticised the delay.

"Agreement was reached on the site size. The refuge is really important, it's crucial that it gets built and there's not a long delay in doing that. But we also need to remember the community based services. We can't lose that. We'll have the eight self contained families in eight units and that's wonderful. We need those emergency crisis units available.

"But we work with 550 woman, that's 550 families a year. So we would still have roughly 540 families we will be working with in the community. We are very protective of that. We need consultation rooms, therapy rooms, training rooms, group rooms.

"We don't know the delivery date. It's converting a protected structure so it's a little bit more complicated than a purpose built one, and then building the eight units at the back," the director said.

Christmas is one of the toughest times for women and children living in abusive homes.

"It exacerbates an already very difficult situation, then there's more alcohol, and people's mental health can suffer that bit more in the winter season as well," Ms Carroll said.

Read also: Busy Portlaoise carpark shutting down for two days

She spoke at the launch of a groundbreaking report written by LDAS about sexual violence, based on personal submissions made by 11 brave local women who use their services. The launch was attended by the President of the European Family Justice Center Alliance Bert Groen, as well as senior Gardaí, TUSLA and other leading figures. Full report to follow.

For any woman experiencing abuse in the home, Marna said their doors are open at the LDAS centre in Portlaoise.

"Please call us. Call in, email us, do it through the contact form on the website. Some people contact us by social media, if that's the only way they can do it that's fine, but we prefer the other methods. We can come to meet you where you're comfortable or you can come in, we are really open and available to people," she said.

Call Laois Domestic Abuse Service on 057 86 71100 during office hours, or email lina@laoisdomesticabuseservice.ie 

See their confidential website here, with donations also welcome.

For men in Laois who are suffering domestic abuse, Marna said the Men's Development Network is the best place to help. Their confidential Male Advice Line is FREEPHONE 1800 816 588, open 10am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 2 to 8pm on weekends and bank holidays.

Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) is financial support to Approved Housing Bodies to build or buy social housing for priority groups such as older people, homeless people or people with disabilities.