Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. I welcome and acknowledge her commitment, hard work and dedication to addressing this; however, as she knows, gender-based violence occurs in many forms and most assaults go unreported. We need society and the political system to address this and take an honest look at how the system responds and meets the needs of victims of violence. One key action of the third national strategy, of which I know the Minister is aware, is the doubling of the number of refuge spaces to 280.

I have had many a meeting with the Minister on a women's refuge for Carlow. I am very lucky in that I am on the committee with representatives of agencies, including Tusla, and the Garda and Carlow Women's Aid. There are so many on the group. It meets every few weeks and has come a long way. When the Minister announced this year the establishment of Cuan, the steering group that will lead in this regard, it was really important. The reason I am so passionate about this matter is that we need to move more quickly on it. The good news is that, because of Cuan, Carlow County Council and all the various agencies working together, a building has been identified in Carlow. I am really delighted about this and thank the Minister for it.

At present, there are families that have to go to other counties. Children have to be moved to other counties, which means they are taken out of school and away from their families and friends. According to the last census, County Carlow had a population of 62,000 and one of the fastest-growing populations, so we need a women's refuge in Carlow quite quickly.

The other issue I want to raise is wraparound services. All the various agencies are working on these and supports for families and children. It is a question of ensuring services are in place. We need to consider having more safe houses. This is another issue that needs to be addressed. Overall, however, much good work has been done.

Considering that we are talking about Cuan, Carlow County Council, the various agencies, funding, the timescale and the identification of a building, could the Minister give me a rough indication as to when the facility will be open? I table parliamentary questions on this every few months. At meetings I say we have come so far but that there is urgency. I realise the Minister has made a commitment to me but the need for the facility is urgent.

Affected women come to my clinics every day. Women do not speak out enough. In fairness, men are also affected. Some men have come to my clinics, albeit not in the same number as women. As men also go to various places for counselling, I also have encountered some men who have been victims of violence.

We need to have the women's refuge for Carlow. It will be able to house eight families, which is what was recommended by the various agencies. It is good that it will be able to achieve this. Progress is being made as quickly as possible. A few months ago on KCLR – the months are flying – the Minister spoke about the women's refuge and committed that it would be up and running in early 2025. It is now the middle of 2024. In the past three months, things have really started to come together. If we could have the facility ready for families to move into early in 2025, it would be great for those families, the people of Carlow, the victims and affected children. Carlow is one of nine counties that do not have a refuge. I heard a Deputy say their county might be getting a different one built, which is quite good.

My two points concern the women's refuge and safe houses. Wraparound supports must be provided for affected families and children, working together with all the agencies. To all the various agencies and groups I have worked for over the past nearly three years, I say we are getting there. I compliment them on their hard work and dedication. We are very lucky in Carlow to have had the teams we have had to bring things to this point.

I compliment the Minister. She gave me her word and has always said to me that the facility will be delivered. No pressure; I know she will deliver it. If we could make the announcement as soon as possible, I would appreciate it. I thank the Minister.

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