Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

561. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to provide the number of refuge spaces available across the country in each year between 2016 and 2024 inclusive, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42527/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

One of the overarching goals of Zero Tolerance, the Third National Strategy on DSGBV, which I published in June 2022, is to ensure that everyone who needs a refuge space will get one and under the strategy we have committed to doubling the number of refuge units across the country.

This represents the fastest ever expansion of refuge accommodation in this country.

To accelerate the delivery of additional refuge accommodation year on year, I formally established Cuan - the Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Agency – at the start of this year.

Cuan is working closely with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the Housing Agency to put in place the necessary structures and supports for organisations to take forward plans.

Last month I launched a new 12 unit refuge in Wexford, the first of 18 priority locations to complete construction. The opening of the new units in Wexford means there are 162 domestic violence units across the country, with four more expected to come online in Louth before the end of the year and construction of a further 12 units in Kilcross in Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown also beginning before the end of this year.

There are at present 82 units undergoing funding approval through the Capital Assistance Scheme, with a further 10 proposals under review by colleagues in Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

There are another 19 units that have been identified as potential development opportunities by Cuan and our planning and delivery pipeline is growing stronger all the time.

Given the number of projects in the pipeline, we are on course to deliver on the ambitious target of doubling the number of refuge spaces.

Cuan is now responsible for coordinating all Government actions set out in the Third National Strategy and has a dedicated team in place to support the development of domestic violence refuges.

As this question relates to work being carried out by Cuan and data held by Cuan, I have referred it to the agency for direct response.