Domestic violence calls increased by almost 14% last year

SINN Féin MEP Kathleen Funchion has urged the government to allocate greater resources to domestic and gender-based violence services, following a parliamentary response revealing a further increase in domestic abuse calls to An Garda Síochána in the Waterford/Kilkenny/Carlow area last year. In 2024, there were 65,224 calls made to the gardaí across the state, a 9% rise from the previous year.

Carlow/Waterford/Kilkenny had the most calls recorded in Ireland South (3,862), an increase of 13.8% on 2023.

Ms Funchion said: “We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to this issue. More and more individuals, women in particular, now have to choose between homelessness and a place that is no longer safe. Women’s Aid say that at least one in four women in Ireland are subjected to some form of abuse from a current or former partner.” 

She continued: “This is not just a private matter but a public issue that requires a multi-faceted approach to reduce its prevalence and ensure that every individual who makes that phone call receives the support they deserve. Violence against women continues to rise, yet there remains no clear and effective response from the government to address the issues at their root.

“Women deserve better. Women deserve to feel safe in every space they enter. We need stronger legislation, stricter enforcement and robust regulations to ensure that offenders are held fully accountable for their actions.

“The government and justice minister Jim O’Callaghan must prioritise this and recognise this for what it is ‒ a crisis. As a member of the European Parliament’s Committee on Women’s’ Rights and Gender Equality, I will continue to use my voice to ensure that violence against women and children stays in the public space,” Ms Funchion concluded.

Remember, help is always available: visit www.safeireland.ie/get-help/where-to-find-help.