Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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1471.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of available Tusla-funded domestic violence refuge beds in each county; and number of occupied Tusla-funded domestic violence refuge beds in each county, in tabular form. [31270/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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A key action of the Third National Strategy is the doubling of refuge space numbers available during the lifetime of the Strategy to 280 refuge spaces.

As the Deputy is aware, prior to the establishment of Cuan, an Inter-Departmental Group was set up to manage and oversee progress on the delivery of additional refuge units. This Committee was initially chaired by the Department of Justice, with representation from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Tusla and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Inclusion and Youth. This Committee is now chaired by Cuan.

Through this Committee, Cuan and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage will continue to assist the development of local structures operating in the priority areas identified in the Third National Strategy and will support their advancement of the new refuges, with capital funding support continuing via the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

The Agency also has a dedicated team in place to support the development of domestic violence refuges.

As accommodation for victims of DSGBV falls under the remit of Cuan, I am referring this question to them for direct answer.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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1472.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of breaches of orders made under the Domestic Violence Act 2018 which were reported to An Garda Síochána in each of the years 2017 to 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31272/24]

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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1473.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of breaches of orders made under the Domestic Violence Act 2018 which were prosecuted in each of the years 2017 to 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31273/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Combatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based remains a priority for this Government, for the Department of Justice and for the Garda Commissioner.

'Zero Tolerance,' the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV), sets out an ambitious whole of government five-year programme of reform to achieve a society which does not accept DSGBV or the attitudes which underpin these crimes. The Strategy, which was co-designed with the sector, also has a significant focus on improving the system for victims of these terrible crimes and on ensuring there is a full range of supports and services available nationwide to support and empower victims and survivors.

I can assure the Deputy that creating a criminal justice system that supports and protects victims at every stage of their journey through it, is and will remain a priority. To ensure this is the case, An Garda Síochána and my Department are continuing to work hard to strengthen trust and confidence in the system so that victims are confident in coming forward to report what has happened to them and get justice.

An Garda Síochána prioritise and proactively respond to incidents of domestic abuse and as the Deputy may be aware, there is now a Divisional Protective Services Unit in each Garda Division, meaning specialised teams are in place nationwide to engage with vulnerable victims in these most difficult cases.

As part of delivering on the commitments under the Third National Strategy, I have strengthened the law to combat all forms of domestic, sexual and gender based violence, including by introducing new stand-alone offences of stalking and non-fatal strangulation and by doubling to 10 years the maximum sentence for assault causing harm, this being one of the most common offences in domestic violence cases. Earlier this month, I welcomed the passage through the Oireachtas of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Act 2024, which will, among other things, improve supports for victims.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána, and all Garda operations, including the recording of charges.

In relation to the specific information sought by the Deputy, An Garda Síochána have provided the information requested in the tables attached.

Information on the number of prosecutions is a matter for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, which is not an agency under my remit. However, to be of assistance, I have included material from An Garda Síochána in relation to the number of charges/summons in the relevant period.