The apparent ending of funding for a scheme designed to tackle domestic abuse is indicative of the "fact that domestic violence just isn't on the political map", according to groups working in the area.
The Department of Justice will not confirm whether funding will cease for the National Domestic Violence Intervention Agency (NDVIA) at the end of the month, saying a decision has yet to be made. The agency's funding runs out in a fortnight.
A pilot project operating in the Dún Laoghaire area since 2003, the agency has been praised by groups as offering a possibility of tackling the issue in a concerted way.
Its mandate has been to co-ordinate the work of the civil and criminal systems and women's support groups while keeping the safety of the victim and accountability of the perpetrator central to the system.
As recently as last November the agency's co-ordinator, Martina Boyle, told The Irish Times the agency had been evaluated and feedback from the department had been "very positive".
"We are meeting the department soon with a view to possibly rolling the project out slowly to one or two more areas in the country." However, she added: "Funding is not enough on any level. It is and remains a bit of a battle."
Reacting yesterday to the department's continued prevarication on funding, Joanna McMinn, Director of the National Women's Council, asked whether the Government was "serious" about addressing the issue.
"The Garda, the courts and the probation and welfare services have all endorsed the NDVIA's work to make the criminal justice and other response systems work together better," said Ms McMinn
"If they all believe that the inter-agency approach will greatly improve women's safety why is the Department of Justice refusing to meet the agency to discuss its future? Is this Government serious about eliminating violence against women? If it is we call on the Minister for Justice to intervene and ensure that this important agency can continue and develop its work of making women's lives safer."
Linda Smith, assistant manager of the Aoibhneas women's refuge in Coolock, Dublin, said she was "shocked" to hear of the probable cessation of funding.
"Any project that can reach out to women experiencing domestic abuse . . . really should be supported. To be honest it shows domestic violence just isn't on the political map."
Ellen O'Malley Dunlop, chief executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has described a lack of political response to the issue of domestic violence.
"There is no champion at political level for people suffering domestic abuse. No one at Cabinet level is saying 'This has to stop'. And this is at a time when levels of violence are going through the roof."
According to a 2005 National Crime Council report 213,000 Irish women had been "severely abused by a partner". There are just 114 refuge beds in the State.
A spokesman for the department said it would not make a final decision on the agency until the end of this month.
