Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach agus cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach seo inniu. The most recent statistics from the Garda on domestic violence reports show that in excess of 54,000 reports were made in 2023. That is an 8% increase on 2022. I will share a few other statistics I found truly shocking. It is estimated that one in three women has experienced psychological violence from a partner at some point in her life. One in four Irish women has experienced physical or sexual violence by a partner or non-partner from the age of 15. As a male, I am truly shocked, embarrassed and sickened by those statistics.The men of Ireland need to take a good, long hard look at themselves.

Unfortunately, when women find themselves in situations like this, they need refuge and protection from the State and need society to put an arm around them. Counties like Monaghan and Cavan are among the nine counties that do not have a dedicated refuge centre to cater for victims who find themselves in these shocking circumstances.

I would like to give a shout out to Siobhan McKenna from Tearmann, the domestic violence service which looked after women and children in Monaghan and Cavan for a long number of years. I would like to say a big thank you to her team for the services they have provided to the women and children of Cavan and Monaghan. I know Tearmann has now been subsumed into Safe Ireland. I wish the organisation well in that regard.

In a situation where women find themselves in need of refuge, it is important that is provided as close to their home as possible and, at the very least, in their own county where they and their families live, close to the services they avail of, be it schools or whatever, and where wraparound services can be provided to them. That is why it is vitally important that services are provided within a county, rather than there being one service for Monaghan and Cavan. A lot of people would share that view.

To those victims find themselves in that position, I say that the quicker we get to a point where we can provide the refuge, the better. I pay tribute to the housing sections of Monaghan and Cavan County Councils for the work they have done with the new organisation, Cuan, in conjunction with Safe Ireland in trying to identify sites in Monaghan and Cavan for refuge centres. Ultimately, we need to get to a point where the service will be available as quickly as possible.

I know work has taken place and I look forward to the contribution of the Minister of State. It is to be hoped he can give me a progress report on the current situation in respect of finding a site for victims of domestic and physical and sexual abuse in counties Cavan and Monaghan.