Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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One of the overarching goals of the Zero Tolerance Strategy to address domestic, sexual and gender based violence (DSGBV), is ensuring that everyone who needs a refuge space will get one, and Government has committed to working with the sector to double the number of refuge spaces over the lifetime of the strategy, bringing it to 280 by the end of 2026.

The Government agreed to immediately prioritise the delivery of 98 family refuge spaces. This followed the Tusla review of accommodation services for victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and a further analysis undertaken by my Department. This includes 8 spaces in Cavan/Monaghan.

In the initial phase of this work, it is expected that 36 places will have been delivered in Wexford, Dundalk and Navan by end-2024. The developments in the other priority locations are currently mainly focused on establishing local stakeholders and lead organisations and on site selection.

To assist the progression of projects, an interdepartmental group has developed and has progressed agreed processes and approaches to ensure that the highest standard of refuge accommodation can be delivered in the most efficient way.

This has already resulted in a more streamlined process for capital funding applications for new refuges and supports for applicant groups from the Housing Agency in relation to public procurement processes.

By introducing these new supports and more efficient processes for local organisations to undertake these projects, I intend to accelerate the delivery of additional places year on year.

As the Deputy is aware, Cuan, the statutory Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Agency has now been established. It will bring a dedicated focus to this important area of work and will continue engaging with the relevant specialist DSGBV organisations in Co. Monaghan in order to advance the development of the much needed domestic violence refuge there.