Women's Refuge Campaigners ask Carlow Candidates to sign pledge ahead of elections

Local activists from the Carlow Women’s Refuge Campaign have sent a pledge to Carlow LEA candidates ahead of the local elections asking that they make the delivery of a women’s refuge in Carlow a priority issue. They also asked that candidates use their platforms as election candidates to talk about the crisis in gender-based violence.

In a statement spokesperson Ger O’Neill said “there is an epidemic of violence against women and children and yet Carlow still remains one of nine counties without a women’s refuge. We have been campaigning on this issue since 2016. We have had a commitment from the government that a refuge will be delivered by 2025, however, following previous broken promises about the delivery date, we remain cautiously optimistic and will not stop until the doors of a refuge open and women and children have somewhere safe to shelter. We are asking these candidates to commit to the timely delivery of a women’s refuge in Carlow”

Ms. O’Neill added “We are thrilled that Amber will be running the new refuge in Carlow. Last year they provided refuge to 40 women and 53 children. But sadly, 212 women needing refuge throughout 2023 could not receive it as Amber was full, these women had to travel elsewhere. We also want to ensure that the supports for Carlow Women’s Aid are continued and enhanced. There is still a need for more safe houses in Carlow as the housing crisis often impacts a women’s ability to leave a violent home.”

They would like to thank Councillors Adrienne Wallace and Andrea Dalton and candidates Adetula Temiola, Paul Dooge, Mark Callinan, Nicoleta Chiorean and Ruairí Doyle for signing the pledge.