Safe housing shortage putting Donegal women and children at risk
Donegal County Councillors have called for some newly built council homes to be reserved for survivors of domestic violence, warning that women are remaining in abusive relationships because they have nowhere else to go.
Eight women have died violently so far this year in Ireland.
This number overtakes the recorded figure of seven women for the whole of 2025.
Sinn Féin Councillor Gerry McMonagle raised the proposal after meeting with Donegal Domestic Violence Service and hearing first-hand about the severe pressure on its accommodation supports.
“Domestic violence, unfortunately, is on the rise and the pressure on the service is very extreme,” he told Monday’s plenary council meeting.
“One of the biggest pressures they have is accommodation for victims of domestic violence and their families. They are currently overrun and housing is very hard to come by.”
Cllr McMonagle asked the Housing Section to engage directly with the service to identify where homes were needed and consider setting aside properties from new developments.
Cllr Dakota Nic Mheanman, who seconded the motion, said the surging number of women killed in Ireland highlighted the urgency of providing safe accommodation.
“We're only in July and we've already passed the number of women who were killed by this stage last year,” she said.
“People ask why women still stay with the partner that is abusing them, and it's because they have nowhere to go some of the time,” she said.
“We're in a housing crisis. There's nowhere to rent. Maybe they're financially dependent on that person also.”
Cllr Nic Mheanman said making council homes available would represent “a really, really positive step forward” for women trying to escape abuse.
She added that domestic violence was affecting every community in Donegal, even if much of it remained hidden.
“I would guarantee there's at least one woman in every town suffering domestic violence that's just going under the radar that people aren't aware of,” she said.
Housing Director Anne Marie Conlon said the council was fully aligned with the spirit of the motion and already worked closely with Donegal Domestic Violence Service to prioritise emergencies.
Rather than automatically reserving one property in every housing development, she said homes should be matched to each family’s needs, preferred location, schools and support networks.
The council will continue engaging with the service to provide safe and suitable accommodation through a targeted approach.
Cllr McMonagle welcomed the response but urged the council to use some homes from its new-build pipeline in a discreet wau.
"There is a very serious situation when the domestic violence service haven't got the homes that they need to rehouse women and children for their safety.
“A lot of women unfortunately stay in a violent household because of that,” he said. “We have seen unfortunately the tragic outcomes.
"Now that we have a pipeline of 700-800 houses, I would urge the council to look at allocating these homes and the domestic violence will make sure of them.
"I am not looking to put a bow on them or point out what they are there for, but that it's done in discussion with the Domestic Violence Service."
This article is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.