Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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305. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of domestic abuse refuge beds in Kerry in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [45846/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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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.

In September, I announced that a €7.3m funding application for the expansion and redevelopment of a domestic violence refuge in Kerry had successfully passed the first stage approval by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

ADAPT Kerry, with the support of Kerry County Council, the Housing Agency and Cuan is looking to increase the capacity of its refuge in Tralee from six to 13 units.

Tralee is one of 18 priority locations identified for domestic violence refuge development as part of the Government’s work under Zero Tolerance, the Third National Strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, to double the number of refuge units.

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.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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306. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the services available to persons experiencing domestic abuse in Castleblayney and the surrounding area; her proposals to enhance these services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45988/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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A central element of delivering on the Zero Tolerance goal of the Third National Strategy was the establishment of Cuan, the statutory domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) agency, which I officially opened at the start of this year.

Cuan has a specific mandate to drive the implementation of the strategy across Government, bringing the expertise and focus required to tackle this complex social issue.

Under Budget 2025, I was pleased to announce that DSGBV funding has increased to €70m, of which €67m is allocated to Cuan.

This more than triples the funding for DSGBV services from when I first became Minister for Justice, and represents a further significant increase for 2025.

Increasing funding for Cuan to €67m will provide for additional resources to support the implementation of the Zero Tolerance strategy.

One of the overarching goals of the Zero Tolerance strategy 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.

Last week, I welcomed the commencement of a site selection process for the building of a domestic violence refuge in the Cavan/Monaghan region, one of the regions identified as a ‘Phase 1’ priority for refuge development under the Zero Tolerance strategy to combat domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.

Developments will also include Safe Home accommodation, as we are aware of the need for services to be accessible to those living in rural areas.

This will be developed in the context of a wider array of services which will be part of a National Services Development Plan.

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 I have referred it to the agency for direct response.