Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Government are committed to doubling of the number of refuge places to 280 as part of our Zero Tolerance Plan, the Third National Strategy to tackle domestic, sexual and gender based violence.

In order to achieve this ambitious goal, we are working with all stakeholders to put in place the necessary structures and supports to accelerate the delivery of additional refuge accommodation year on year. In addition, the enactment of legislation to provide for a new agency in January 2024 to deliver refuge spaces is a key priority.

Work undertaken to implement the Strategy has already prepared the way for this, including through the development of agreed processes and approaches that will support organisations to deliver the highest standard of refuge accommodation in the most efficient and holistic way.

Development of 28 refuge units is underway in Wexford, Dundalk and Navan to be delivered by end 2024. There will be 98 refuge units in priority locations delivered by end 2025 along with a further 19 additional and upgraded units by the end of the Strategy.

Tusla is continuing to support the process of developing a refuge for Carlow, and is also is supporting Carlow’s Women’s Aid to progress a number of Safe Home units (4) in Carlow.

On the refuge, a group of local stakeholders associated with the local domestic violence network established the Carlow Refuge Development Advisory Group, and there has been considerable engagement with Tusla over the past six months.

A process was undertaken by the group to identify possible organisations interested in taking a lead on developing a refuge in Carlow.

This early-stage process was concluded in June and a report was submitted to Tusla with recommendations that will inform the next steps and timeline for the development of the Carlow domestic violence refuge.