Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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51. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality for an update on the provision of a domestic violence refuge for women in Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7677/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Zero Tolerance strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, which was published last June and runs to 2026, commits to doubling the number of refuge places within its lifetime.

This will be the fastest ever expansion of refuge spaces and by the end of this Strategy there will be over 280 refuge spaces. In addition, there will be delivery of more safe homes and step down accommodation options.

By the end of 2024, we expect to have delivered 24 refuge units in Wexford, Dundalk and Navan. Work is ongoing to finalise lead providers and sites for each of the other priority locations, with many already identified.

It is our intention that an additional 98 refuge units in priority locations will have been delivered by 2025, which together with a further 19 additional and upgraded units delivered before the end of the Strategy will double the current number of refuge places.

The initial areas identified in the Tusla review include Cavan/Monaghan, where eight family places were suggested as a starting point for prioritisation.

A group of key stakeholders has met a number of times, which included officials from Departments of Justice, Housing, Tusla, Cavan and Monaghan County Councils, members of An Garda Síochána and local stakeholders, to discuss progressing a refuge for the Cavan/Monaghan. Tusla is following up with local meetings, with a view to formalising a process for development of the refuge and support services.

An implementation plan will be developed to take forward refuge developments in all of the priority areas identified in the IDG report.

At the same time, work is ongoing on delivering more safe homes, which are usually separate units of supported emergency accommodation, e.g. an apartment or house at a community level, in order to meet the needs of those at low to medium risk of serious harm. An additional 12 safe homes were delivered in 2022, bringing the total to 32 nationwide and we plan to increase this to 50 by the end of this year.

By putting in place the correct structures to deliver additional refuge accommodation, including the development of a new statutory agency, we will accelerate the number of additional spaces that can be opened each year. Already, work undertaken implementing the Strategy has prepared the way for this, including through additional funding under Budget 2023, the introduction of additional supports and the development of simplified processes and procedures to assist organisations in advancing proposals.

We are continuing to work together with domestic violence organisations and applicant groups, through the Housing Agency, to provide assistance with capital funding applications, public procurement and design and build processes. This approach will ensure we have the highest standard of refuge accommodation, delivered in the most efficient way.

The Zero Tolerance Strategy also commits to examining other options for victims of domestic violence, such as addressing barriers to remaining in the home if that is their preferred option.