Cork City Council’s housing staff wait years for training on helping domestic violence victims

STAFF members at Cork City Council's housing department are yet to receive training from Mná Feasa, an organisation supporting women who are experiencing or have experienced domestic violence, more than three years after the idea was mooted.

In late 2020, Independent councillor Ken O'Flynn submitted a motion which called on the council to engage with Mná Feasa to work to raise awareness and staff training in the council's housing department "to help better understanding of relationships, domestic violence where city council tenants are at risk".

A report issued to councillors at the time stated that housing staff "would have extensive experience and ability gained through their work in housing and from training provided to them to handle cases of a sensitive and complicated nature", however the report added that the department was "open to working with Mná Feasa” and would “make contact with them to see what supports/training they can offer".

Speaking at a council meeting in November 2020, Mr O'Flynn said that he was "delighted with the response from city management" and asked whether elected members might themselves be able to undertake this training.

Speaking to The Echo in recent days, Mr O’Flynn said he has followed up with the council on two occasions, but that it is his understanding that no such training has taken place yet.

“I followed that up twice and was told training would happen, but as far as I understand, there’s been no training. It’s very disappointing. The idea [behind the motion] was to help identify people that were in a dangerous situation, identify people that were at risk, being able to assist them and give them the right type of advice and the right time of answers,” he explained.

Mná Feasa was set up in 1991 by the Cork Women’s Action Group. It was set up primarily by women who have themselves survived domestic violence.

The project provides a range of services, including a helpline, support group and an accompaniment service for women attending courts, Garda stations, doctors, hospitals, solicitors and other such appointments.