Reducing Ireland's alcohol consumption is a key strategy for bringing down levels of domestic violence, according to Alcohol Action Ireland.
According to the organisation, alcohol is a "contributing cause that accelerates and exacerbates domestic, sexual and gender based violence".
Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI) said there has beent a "continued lack of movement by Government" to introduce an early intervention safeguarding scheme that supports children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse.
Operation Encompass
This scheme, known as Operation Encompass, was recommended in a 2022 strategy report on domestic, sexual and gender based violence.
It would see police provide schools with information immediately following incidents of domestic abuse involving a child, which would allow the school to give immediate support to the victim.
The programme has already been rolled out in 1,162 schools across Northern Ireland, with more than 23,000 referrals made in the first 12 months.
An empty classroom, AlamyAAI CEO Dr Sheila Gilheany said witnessing domestic abuse can cause problems that risk following a child into adulthood.
"This risk increases when both substance use and violence coexist in the family," she said.
"We know that our systems and legal mechanisms are different from those north of the border, but our children and the issues they face are not.
"This is a humane trauma-informed response to a child in distress.
"There is no doubt many teachers would do this anyway if they knew what was going on in a child’s home, but the fact is that very often, they don’t due to the hidden nature of domestic abuse."
Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan has said that “work is ongoing to scope out and develop an operational framework to introduce Operation Encompass in the Irish system".
Domestic violence incidents reported to Gardaí show a 10% year-on-year increase since 2021 to more than 65,000 cases last year.
Main image: Depression, alcohol and domestic violence abuse stock, © PA Archive/PA Images
