Galway Bay fm newsroom - The number of children who can't be accommodated by homelessness and domestic abuse charity Cope Galway almost doubled last year.
The city-based organisation is the only 24 hour service of its kind in the West of Ireland.
Last year, Cope Galway, based at Waterside House, had to help 441 children and their mothers find accommodation elsewhere.
That's almost double the figure of 246 who were turned away from staying at Waterside House in 2016 due to lack of capacity.
According to The Times Ireland Edition, there was a rise in the number of women who had fled domestic abuse - from 204 cases to 258.
The closest refuges to COPE Galway are in Ennis, Co. Clare; Athlone, Co. Westmeath; and Castlebar, Co. Mayo.
Between them, it's understood they operate about 100 beds.
COPE is warning that the lack of capacity to meet demand is a particular issue for women living in rural areas, who often have to uplift their lives to seek help.
It also says the housing crisis is having a significant impact on the situation - as many have nowhere to move to once they arrive at a refuge with their children.
Figures from Safe Ireland, which represents domestic abuse services, show that in 2016, almost 4 thousand requests for emergency accommodation were turned down nationwide due to capacity issues.
While COPE Galway says it may not be able to accommodate some women or children at different times, it will help them find refuge elsewhere.
