I wish to speak about the Safe Ireland report published yesterday. I am conscious it was mentioned earlier. The research is traumatic. It is deeply upsetting to see how many people are suffering from domestic violence. The number of women and children who contacted services for the very first time during the first six months of the Covid pandemic is eye watering. Some 3,450 women and 589 children contacted domestic violence services for the very first time. That is the equivalent of 19 women and three children every day, or about 25% of the total number of women and children who contact domestic violence services.

While there is no doubt that we are living in the middle of a Covid pandemic, there is also a pandemic in respect of domestic violence. It is incumbent on every one of us to fight for women and men who suffer from domestic violence, in particular given that there are more women than ever in the Seanad. We need to stand firm and strong with our peers who are undergoing domestic violence.

There are 158 shelter spaces available for women who are victims of domestic violence in this country. There was a commitment in the programme for Government that there would be an increase in the number of places, but it is of paramount importance that extra work is done to provide resources for victims who need to use domestic refuge centres. I want to pay particular tribute to Teach Tearmainn in Kildare which does incredible work. We also need to work with local authorities to ensure victims have the opportunity to have permanent housing.

Following on from my colleague, Senator O'Loughlin, I would like to talk about the same subject. Safe Ireland, the national domestic violence agency, works with 39 front-line services throughout the length and breadth of the country. In my area, Monaghan and Cavan, I know Tearmann does fantastic work and I want to compliment it on the fantastic service it provides.

The report being discussed today makes for very grim reading. The report, which was carried out from March of this year, covers a six-month period. I found the content of the report alarming and heartbreaking. During that six-month period, 3,450 women and 589 children contacted a domestic support hotline for the very first time. Some 32,941 telephone calls were answered, an average of 184 calls per day. It is important that we pause and remember that behind the 184 calls every day is a broken family in turmoil and living in fear of their circumstances. When I think of that, I think of the families who have yet to pick up the phone and make the call. I encourage them to do so and reach out for help because help is there.

Sadly and shockingly, 191 women and 280 children are living in domestic abuse accommodation every month. Even more shockingly, 1,351 requests for refuge could not be provided due to a lack of space. Service providers have been promised additional funding across a number of Departments, but they want the funding made available to them to be ring-fenced for their use. I ask that information be provided to them as soon as possible.