Robert O'Donoghue: Calls for urgent €3m Safe Fund for survivors
Robert O'Donoghue urges the Government to bring forward the Labour women's proposed £3 million Safe Fund to support victims and survivors of domestic violence. He sets out why a once-off, non-means-tested rapid payment is a practical, life-saving emergency measure.
Proposal details
Robert O'Donoghue explains the Safe Fund policy launched by the Labour Party and Labour women, describing it as a once-off, non-means-tested and rapid payment delivered in emergencies to help people leave abusive situations or meet essential needs while they remain.
Why it matters
He highlights coercive control and financial abuse as barriers that leave many survivors without safe access to money, even when they are in employment. He argues that existing supports can be too slow or administratively complex in an emergency, and that rapid cash support can be decisive.
Frontline evidence and acknowledgement
O'Donoghue notes that frontline services already deliver similar emergency payments through donations and acknowledges the work of Willow Meath Refuge. He points to rising reports of domestic and sexual violence and says that increasing disclosures underline the scale of the problem.
Budget urgency and next steps
He calls on the Government to prioritise the proposed €3 million Safe Fund in the next Budget cycle and says the proposal should be considered alongside existing investments in safe houses, social protection and housing to strengthen emergency response for survivors.
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Too often we speak about domestic violence as if leaving is a simple choice, when for many it's not. Coercive control and financial abuse means survivors may have no access safely to money, even if they're in employment themselves. The Safe Fund policy launched recently by the Labour Party and by Labour women would provide a once-off, non-means-tested and rapid payment, delivered at times of emergency, to help people who need to leave and to help with essential needs for people who have to stay. We already know this model works because frontline services have been delivering it through funding of donations. The existing supports that are in situ are vital, but at times too slow and complex in emergencies, so this is a practical, life-saving measure. I'm calling on the Government to urgently bring forward the proposed £3 million Safe Fund by Labour women for victims and survivors of domestic violence. This must be prioritised in the next Budget cycle. I'd just like to acknowledge your work at the Willow Mead Refuge. Thank you for raising this matter. I think we've seen in the last week or two around Go Purple Day, but more broadly I suppose we should be talking about it all the time, the fact that the number of women in particular coming forward who are victims of domestic and sexual violence is increasing year on year, while this in one way is seen as a good thing that women are coming forward. It's completely alarming the figures that we're seeing, and just highlights again the fact that this is an epidemic and we need to do everything that we can to support women to get out of this situation. So I think we need to be open to all proposals, including the one that you've outlined here. I think Government has introduced different kinds of supports, not least safe houses, the investment in coo and the different funding that is available through different mechanisms, be it social protection or housing, but at the same time, as you say, this type of money has been allocated through many of the organisations and associations. If there's a way in putting this in a more formal setting, I absolutely think we should look at this more broadly.
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