Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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1083. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated cost of providing an additional 335 domestic abuse refuge spaces to meet Ireland’s obligations under the Istanbul Convention. [30693/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Tackling Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (DSGBV) is a central priority for me as Minister for Justice.

The Zero Tolerance Strategy to address DSGBV is ambitious and is structured around the four pillars of the Istanbul Convention – Protection, Prevention, Prosecution and Policy Co-ordination. One of the overarching goals of this Strategy is ensuring that everyone who needs a refuge space can access one.

Cuan, the DSGBV agency, has been operational since January 2024, and is responsible for coordinating all Government actions set out in the Zero Tolerance strategy. Cuan works in partnership with the local front-line service providers, local authorities, the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage and the Housing Agency and has streamlined processes in order to accelerate the delivery of domestic violence refuges.

I am advised that the capital costs of constructing domestic violence refuges are funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage through the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS).

To be of assistance, I contacted that Department and was informed that, based on average all-in costs, which are calculated based on the refuge completed in 2024 in Wexford, and a number of further refuges currently in the pre-construction CAS pipeline, the average capital cost per family unit of refuge accommodation currently stands at €583,000. Family units are own door units which may accommodation more than one person including children of the person requiring refuge.

Part of the Deputy's question relates to the cost of running a refuge. As this falls within the remit of Cuan, I have referred this aspect of the question to the agency for direct response.