Domestic violence forcing Sligo women and children into homelessness - Cllr

WOMEN and children in Sligo are being forced into homelessness because of domestic violence in their homes a local councillor said this week.

Cllr Gino O’Boyle asked Sligo County Council to appoint a domestic violence liaison officer but amended this to ask the council to provide training for staff dealing with the victims of domestic violence as there are already experts providing services and to add that a council appointment would “dilute” their effectiveness.

Cllr O’Boyle initially proposed that Sligo County Council would put in place a sexual and domestic violence liaison officer in its housing section, adding that if appropriate funds are not available, the council would write to the Justice Minister seeking help with funding the appointment.

The motion was then amended on the suggestion of fellow councillor Sineád Maguire to ask for training for council staff rather than making an appointment.

In a report, Sligo County Council said the expert view was that the services were already delivered through the domestic violence advocacy service who have the relevant expertise to manage this service.

Cllr O’Boyle said women and children were experiencing domestic violence and they are being forced into homelessness to seek safety.

“In most cases women do not want to see their children going homeless so they endure the suffering at home and that is the option they will choose to avoid the family being left on the streets.

“We need more support from Sligo County Council to remove the alleged perpetrators from the tenancy so the women and families can live in their homes,” he said.

The council report said the services were already delivered through the domestic violence advocacy service who have the relevant expertise to manage this service.

The introduction of a role in the local authority would only dilute the provision of this service.

Cllr Sineád Maguire suggested the motion should be amended to ask for training to be provided to staff rather than the provision of another member of staff.

“I think this is a wellplaced motion, this is where people come looking for support and it is really important that the staff would have the training to recognise people in a very difficult situation and would be able to provide the necessary support with the aid of those who are doing it on a full-time basis.

“If there was some sort of training for staff it would be very helpful,” she said.

Cllr Thomas Walsh said he supported the intentions of the motion but did not support the creation of a post in the local authority because he did not think the local authority was “the right vehicle for it” and to do so would be dangerous.

Cllr Maguire said they had agreed to amend the motion to seek training as opposed to an additional staff member.

Cllr Walsh said there were services within the community and multi-disciplinary teams who are fully funded to deal with the issues.

He said it is important that the expertise is left in the community to deal with these issues.

Cllr O’Boyle said he accepted the amendment and would be happy to see Sligo County Council staff receiving training as suggested by Cllr Sinead Maguire.