Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Today is the eighth anniversary of Sonia Blount, the 31-year-old Dublin woman who was killed by her ex-boyfriend hours after her 3-year-old's birthday party when she ended their brief relationship. Violence against women remains a problem every day. Today's review of accommodation published by the Minister, Deputy McEntee, is welcome and important.

In Dún Laoghaire, that work has already well begun with collaboration between the council executive, the Garda through the Joint Policing Committees, JPC, and the Taoiseach's colleague, Councillor Mary Hanafin, to try to find accommodation for 20 family places. The review says ten; it is not enough. I know it is a good start but it is not enough.

There needs to be an implementation plan with flexibility for council areas to be able to get ahead. In Dún Laoghaire we are really struggling. Bray is full and Rathmines is closed. The council is working to try to find 20 extra spaces. If we can find those, whether they are in an old nursing home, religious building, bed and breakfast accommodation or whatever it happens to be, will the Government allow us to get ahead of the implementation schedule for the review for accommodation? Can we get ahead and deliver what is needed for families, women and men across Dún Laoghaire?

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