Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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544. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress that has been made to date regarding the provision of a women’s refuge in Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24339/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Under the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, we are committed to doubling the number of refuge spaces, bringing it to over 280 nationwide.

In addition, by putting in place the correct structures to deliver additional refuge accommodation, the Government will accelerate the number of refuge spaces that can be opened each year.

Tusla is continuing to support the process of developing a refuge for Co. Carlow and a group of local stakeholders associated with the local domestic violence network, has established the Carlow Refuge Development Advisory Group.

This group is an interim, time-bound structure that has come together to undertake some initial scoping and develop options for appraisal about how best to take forward development of the refuge.

I can advise the Deputy that the group has had a number of meetings to date and independent consultancy is supporting the work of the group since March 2023. I understand that a process was undertaken by the group to identify possible organisations interested in taking a lead on developing a refuge in Carlow.

This process will conclude in the coming weeks and a report will be submitted to Tusla by the end of June.

The key findings and recommendations from this process will inform the next steps and timeline for the development of the Carlow refuge.

The priority will be to identify actions to progress the refuge development as quickly as possible.