Ireland should invest in building more women's support centres, as coverage is not meeting international standards set by the Istanbul Convention. The most recent Census data available shows Ireland would need more than 500 refuge spaces to meet its requirements under the convention.

Right to access social services ✅ 

The right to access social services is guaranteed by the Irish Constitution Bunreacht na hÉireann, & The Equal Status Acts 2000-2015.

Definition of social services ❌ 

National catalogue of social services ❌ 

Strategic plan for social services ❌ 

Responsibilities of national/ regional/ local authorities 🤝

Irish social services are provided by several government departments, public services and funded NGOs.

The Health Information and Quality Authority’s (HIQA) role is to develop standards, inspect and review health and social care services and support informed decisions about service delivery.

• The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth's mission is to enhance the lives of children, young people, adults, families and communities, recognising diversity and promoting equality of opportunity. 

• The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. To support the sustainable and efficient delivery of well-planned homes, effective local government and vibrant, inclusive communities. This department is responsible for housing policy and the provision of social housing. It works with local authorities to ensure adequate housing services are available

• The Department of Health is responsible for financing.( HIQA Annual Report 2022)

Local authorities: 

Local authorities in Ireland are responsible for the provision of public services and facilities such as housing, planning, roads, environmental protection, fire services, and maintaining the electoral register.

Councils also play a significant part in supporting economic development and enterprise at a local level.

Third-sector NGOs have a role in providing services; for example, the Health Service Executive (HSE) governs social care organisations undersection 39 governance framework.

1. Public expenditure for social protection (2022): € 58,800,000,000
2. € 74.3 billion funding within the 2023 budget will continue to support health and education, people, and households through social protection, housing support, and funding for businesses, agriculture, and childcare sectors.

Source: CSO – Ireland, 2022

Workforce

5,243 social workers in 2023

Source:  Regulatory Authority For Health And Social Care Professionals Ireland, 2023

18,000 home care workers in 2023

Source: Oireachtas, 2023

Long-term care (LTC) for older people

Statistics collected from 2022:

1. Number of older people aged 65+: 768,900

Source: Central Statistics Office, 2022

2. Number of people 65+ receiving LTC by type:

          a. Residential care: 25,000

          b. Home care: 54,000

Source: a) Irish Parliament, 2023 b) Arthur Cox, 2023 

Long-term care (LTC) for people with disabilities (PWD)

Statistics collected from 2022:

1. Number of PWD: 1,109,557

2. Number of PWD with a high degree of disability: 407,342

3. Number of people using disability services*: 73,927

* Includes residential, home, rehabilitation and day care, and personal assistance

Source: 1) 2) Central Statistics Office, 2023 (online) 3) Health Research Board, 2023

Source: Health Research Board, 2022

1,866 PWD worked in sheltered workshops: 

Source: Health Research Bord, 2022

Child protection services

5,558 children in alternative care (2022)

Source: Irish Government, 2022

Women’s support

54,047 domestic violence reports were made in 2023, an increase of 8 % compared to the previous year. 

Source: The Journal, 2023

35,570 disclosures of domestic abuse against women have been made to Women’s Aid Ireland.

Source: Women’s Aid IE, 2023

141 accommodation places for families*

* a family place is defined as a single funded refuge unit, according to the national child and family agency, Tusla. This is a unit that can accommodate one woman and a number of children. 

Source: TUSLA, 2022

37 domestic abuse services

Source: TUSLA, 2022 

Homelessness and social housing

1. Number of emergency accommodation places for homeless people.
2. Number of households on waiting lists for social housing.
3. Number of social housing apartments built.

Source: 1) 2) 3) : Irish Government, 2023

4. Average waiting time to access social housing

Source: 4) Housing Agency Ireland, 2023 

32,695 new homes were completed in 2023, representing the largest annual delivery of new homes in fifteen years and exceeding the 29,000 target set in the Housing for All strategy.