Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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There has been a long-standing issue regarding the lack of domestic violence refuges in counties Cavan and Monaghan. In its submission to the justice committee on refuges in August 2021, Safe Ireland, the national policy service support and development hub for 39 specialist domestic violence services, many of which provide refuge, highlighted that there were nine counties without refuge accommodation. Almost three years later, the Sinn Féin leader, Deputy Mary Lou McDonald, highlighted that nine counties still lack refuges. She did so in the context of a report from Women’s Aid which showed the highest levels of domestic violence disclosures to its organisation across its 50-year history.

I welcome that Monaghan and Cavan were identified as a priority for the development of services. Let us be real, however. The fact that these services are badly needed in a community of nearly 150,000 people hardly necessitated the years of analysis, especially in the context whereby half of the existing refuges in the State were already full. I welcome the Government's intention to support the opening of a refuge in the Cavan-Monaghan region. Given the dire need for such crucial services across the State, however, does the Minister of State not agree that it would be prudent that refuge spaces be provided in both counties? A journey between, for example, Dowra in west Cavan and Castleblayney in east Monaghan would take the best part of two hours by car. The journey would take the best part of a day if a person were to use public transport.

The Minister for Justice's predecessor set a target of delivering 280 spaces across the State by 2026. This is far shy of the more than 500 places recommended by the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence. Our State has a long history of failing women and children. Much work remains to be done in order to ensure that all women and children in our society are unafraid, without anxiety and free to enjoy the safety and security we are all entitled to. A starting point must be that where women and children are not safe in their homes or where they experience or have fear of violence and abuse, refuge is available to them. Responsibility in this regard falls on the Government. I genuinely ask it to make real progress and be ambitious as to what it can achieve for survivors of domestic abuse in Ireland.

Does the Minister of State acknowledge that we have to be more ambitious with our targets than was the case with the previous Minister for Justice? As an indication of that ambition, will the current Minister commit to opening a refuge in Cavan and Monaghan which will only be a precursor to delivering adequate refuge services in both counties?

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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I am speaking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, who is at the Cabinet meeting.

One of the overarching goals of Zero Tolerance: Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence, is to ensure that everyone who needs a refuge space will get one. The strategy, which was published in June 2022, included a commitment to doubling the number of refuge units throughout the country.

This represents the fastest ever expansion of refuge accommodation in this country. Cuan, the domestic, sexual and gender-based violence agency, was established at the beginning of last year and is working in partnership with local front-line services providers, local authorities, the Department of housing and the Housing Agency to streamline processes in order to accelerate the delivery of refuges. There were 147 refuge units across the country at the end of 2023, with 12 new units delivered in 2024, including the state-of-the-art refuge in Wexford. This year a further 54 units are set to be under construction or due for refurbishment. This will bring the total units, including those under construction, to 213 at the end of 2025.

A key priority for the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, and Cuan is the development of a domestic violence refuge in the Cavan-Monaghan region. Cavan-Monaghan is identified as a phase 1 priority for refuge development under the zero tolerance strategy. Cuan is working with the key stakeholders, including Safe Ireland, the Department of housing, Cavan and Monaghan county councils and the Housing Agency, to progress the development of an eight-unit refuge in this region. This will include community-facing ancillary support services. Cuan has worked with Safe Ireland to fund and resource a project manager post and a change manager post, in addition to supporting the organisation to form the local partnership needed to drive the project.

Last year, a site selection process for the building of a domestic violence refuge in the Cavan-Monaghan area was started, marking a key step in the delivery of a new domestic violence refuge in the region. In addition to identifying suitable locations for refuge development, the process will focus on identifying potential locations for safe home development, reflecting the strong commitment from all partners to protecting survivors, preventing further victimisation and ensuring they have the stability to rebuild their lives.

I am aware that the Castleblaney area of Monaghan is supported by a number of Cuan’s funded services, including the national 24-hour domestic violence helpline operated by Women’s Aid. Outreach supports are provided to the Castleblaney area by Tearmann Domestic Abuse Service, now operating as Safe Ireland Cavan-Monaghan. The TLC Kidz recovery programme is delivered by Barnardos, which supports children recovering from their experience of domestic violence. Emergency refuge accommodation services are available in Dundalk, County Louth.

Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister of State. It is disappointing the Minister for Justice is not here, as we could have had a more substantive engagement. I reiterate that Cavan and Monaghan are only being considered for one refuge and ask that the Minister considers two refuges, one for each county. Why are we being treated unfairly in those counties?

As well as enduring emotional, psychological and physical abuse, all too often the victims of domestic abuse bear the additional burden of their lives being torn asunder, in particular regarding being effectively put out of their family home. This can compound suffering, further upend lives, and penalise victims for having been abused, especially in situations where a victim of domestic abuse is the primary childcare provider. It is morally unacceptable that a woman can be forced into homelessness for having been abused by her partner, but that is what is happening. Cases have been highlighted in national media where women have been forced to stay in refuges for more than a year, have fallen afoul of already insufficient protections for renters or have little recourse due to fear of the potential consequences of seeking a barring order. Would the Minister be willing to examine this with a view to introducing legislative changes, if necessary, to ensure that the victims of domestic abuse do not see their homes taken away from them and their children at a time they are at their most vulnerable?

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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As I noted earlier, the Minister is at a Cabinet meeting. That is why he cannot be here and it is only fair to put that on the record.

A key overarching goal for the zero tolerance strategy is to ensure every woman and child who needs a refuge space gets one and the Government continues to work towards that. In the most recent budget, domestic, sexual and gender-based violence funding was increased to €70 million. This is more than treble what was available at the start of the previous Government's term and is a further significant increase for this year.

The increased funding for Cuan to almost €67 million includes additional funding for refuge spaces. The review of the provision of accommodation for victims of domestic violence published by Tusla in February 2022 highlights that almost three quarters of the population of the State is within 30 minutes of a refuge location. Cuan is acutely aware of the need to improve on this and ensure services are accessible to everybody, including those living in rural areas and in Cavan and Monaghan. Achieving this, including through the completion of a national services development plan, is a core objective of Cuan's plan for 2025 to 2027, which was published at the end of last year. Alongside refuges, a further 20 safe homes are in the pipeline for development. Once complete, they will bring the national total to 72.