Lorraine Clifford-Lee (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for that response. I appreciate it. I know Fingal County Council is working with agencies to find the site and deliver this, and that the Housing Agency is linking in with it. I feel there is a role for the Department of Justice to co-ordinate this, in light of the domestic violence strategy. I am glad there will be extra spaces in Wexford, Dundalk and Navan delivered by the end of 2024. That is very important in the context of provision on the east coast because the population expansion is on the east coast.

However, I would be very disappointed if the space in Balbriggan was not delivered by that date as well. The fact that the Minister of State flagged those particular areas and the date of the end of 2024 would have me a little concerned that there will not be movement on the Balbriggan site and delivery of the spaces by then. I will continue to engage with the Minister of State, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Housing Agency, Fingal County Council and my colleague, Howard Mahony, to ensure this refuge is prioritised and delivered, and a safe space for the women and children of north Fingal who are fleeing violence is provided.