MacManus seeks former Kazelain Building as Domestic Violence Refuge

16 Nov 2009

Cllr. Chris MacManus’ proposals seeking stronger laws to protect those suffering from domestic violence and the usage of the former Kazelain building as a refuge for women and children was discussed at Sligo Borough Council on Monday, 16th November. All of his proposals were adopted unanimously.

Cllr. MacManus’s speech:

‘Domestic abuse is an issue that affects people from all walks of life and one that is a priority to both highlight and address. Until domestic abuse is treated as the harrowing crime it is, we as a society are not making progress. We should not ignore or turn a blind eye to a serious crime that leads to people being physically and mentally scarred in their own homes day in day out.

The justice system is the only system that can protect women from violence in the home. International research has demonstrated that an effective response from the justice system can reduce violence against women. Conviction rates are alarmingly low; only between 1% and 6% of domestic violence offenders receive a prison sentence and many women experiencing domestic violence report that the legal system has failed to protect them from their partner’s violence. In some regions waiting times for hearings for barring and safety orders can take over 3 months. Further, unmarried parties often find that they are not covered by the legislation or must remain with the violent party for a certain period before being eligible.

Therefore, I call on the government to make the necessary provisions for the introduction of an effective and consistent sanctioning system; to amend the Domestic Violence Act 1996/2002 to allow non-married parties better access to protection and develop guidelines on the granting of protective orders; to re-introduce and resource a role for the Probation Service in family courts producing safety reports and risk assessments to inform judges’ decisions and to ensure the supervision of child access where necessary to protect against further abuse.

Women who experience domestic violence may need a range of services including: emergency accommodation, transitional housing, and support services. Frontline services have suffered from neglect of this area and in a recent consultation, 83% of services said that they were not resourced to meet current demands. 3 years ago, the Women’s Aid National Helpline was unable to answer 2 out of 5 calls due to lack of resources. Last year more than 1700 women, subjected to domestic violence, were turned away from refuges due to lack of space. Therefore, this Council should call on the government to prioritise and guarantee core funding to frontline services including refuges, outreach, counselling, court accompaniment and transition housing on a multi-annual basis to allow for the strategic development and delivery of service.

And what of our responsibilities here in Sligo? The North-west region is in a regretful position as being the only region state-wide without purpose built emergency accommodation for those who have experienced domestic violence. Within recent years, the Borough Council as lead agency amongst a number of local authorities, has been working alongside the frontline agency DVAS in addressing this shameful position. It was envisaged that a purpose built refuge would have been part of the social housing element in the wider Ballinode development proposals. Due to the economic downturn, this proposed development is now many years off. This however should not mean, that those who are or may suffer from domestic violence should be forced to endure continued abuse. We have a responsibility to assist in anyway we can, both as a local authority and a community. Therefore I am proposing: ‘That this Borough Council requests the County Manager to consider leasing the former Kazelain building, for use as a refuge for those suffering from domestic violence. Further, that the Borough Council agrees to consult and discuss with related agencies, such as DVAS as regards to this building’s suitability for this purpose.’

This building is lying dormant since the Department of Justice forced it’s closure in November ’08. A facility that cost ¤2.6 million to purchase and renovate, is now lying idle. Contrast this with the needs of victims of domestic violence, mothers and children alike, who have no facility in the north-west. Let us do the right thing by looking after those who have for to long been forced to suffer and endure, because they felt they had nowhere to go.

I ask members to support both the motion and the addendum.

Borough Council to review Anti-Social Behaviour Policy

• The use of exclusion orders for serious offenders, not just from named households, but from whole estates.  This we are entitled to do under the Housing Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1997. To date, this Council has failed to actively enforce this power.
  
  
• The inclusion of a mandatory commitment to seek eviction and exclusion orders on those convicted with possession of illicit substances with intent to supply, who give their home address from within any council built area.
  
  
• An active publicity campaign to promote this new policy throughout the borough. Unfortunately, not enough of our community are aware of the policy’s existence and that this Council has a Housing Investigation Unit to follow up on all complaints received.
  
  
• A clear explanation showing this Council's commitment to protecting the anonymity of members of the community who make genuine complaints.