The leader of Sinn Féin has highlighted the lack of services for women who have suffered from domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in the Shannonside Region. Mary Lou McDonald raised the issue in the Dáil and said there is no refuge provision in Roscommon, Leitrim and Longford along with 6 other counties nationally. The Taoiseach said the plan is to double the number of refuge places to 280 with Government agency 'Cuan' tasked with publishing a quarterly tracking report.
In January, it was confirmed that eight family places are expected to be made available by the end of next year in Longford. The Longford refuge units will be part of the delivery of 98 such places in priority locations nationwide by the end of next year. Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy McDonald asked the Taoiseach for a timeline on when the counties will have refuge provision:
