Written answers
Thursday, 9 October 2025
Department of Justice and Equality
Domestic Violence
Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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38. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the actions Cuan is taking to prevent the housing crisis from impacting on person’s ability to leave abusive relationships. [53203/25]
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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41. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he is aware of the impact that the housing crisis is having on victims of domestic abuse; to provide an update on the engagement he has had with his Department regarding this issue; if he understands that victims and survivors are losing time, spent on waiting lists, because they cannot return to the place where their abuser lives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53676/25]
Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 41 together.
Tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is a central priority for this Government and underpins the Zero Tolerance Strategy.
In January 2024, Cuan, the statutory DSGBV agency was established and has been the lead agency coordinating Government actions under that Strategy, ensuring services, training, and public awareness initiatives are effectively delivered nationwide.
A key commitment in that strategy is to double domestic violence accommodation capacity in Ireland by the end of 2026 from 141 to 282 family units. Cuan has a central function in coordinating this unprecedented capital programme to increase safe accommodation capacity in Ireland. Cuan is working closely with Domestic Violence services, Approved Housing Bodies, Local Authorities, the Department of Housing and the Housing Agency to coordinate local actions and to support local services with delivery.
By the end of 2024, almost all priority locations had identified a site, one new refuge had opened and another had started construction. Estimated delivery timelines were mapped for all priority locations. At my request, Cuan undertook a review in early 2025 and worked with services and partners to assess and review progress and identify a series of actions to accelerate delivery and to bring safe accommodation on stream as quickly as possible to meet the needs of those fleeing violence.
Following that review, completed in spring 2025, and with my agreement, the following targets will be delivered:
- 52 new family refuge units by the end of 2026
- 45 new safe homes by the end of 2026
- with 50 new units under construction by the end of 2026.
In June, I launched the final implementation plan for the Third National Strategy. The plan introduces a comprehensive monitoring and reporting framework designed to track progress and assess impact of all 95 actions across the four pillars: Protection, Prevention, Prosecution, and Policy Coordination. A central component of the plan is expansion of refuge accommodation including the development of a comprehensive national emergency domestic violence accommodation plan to address the needs of those experiencing abuse.
Earlier this week I secured a funding increase of almost €80m under Budget 2026 to support Cuan and services working to tackle DSGBV and the implementation of the Strategy. This represents an increase of €11.5m year on year.
I am also committed to legislative reform. While current legislation provides protections under the Domestic Violence Act 2018, I am determined to ensure that victims and survivors are further protected and supported, and that the burden of leaving the family home does not fall on those experiencing abuse. My Department is examining proposals to develop a policy on removal orders to take offenders out of the home in high-risk cases, subject to legal considerations.
I must emphasise, in the context of the Deputy's question, I can only speak for my own Department. Our response to tackling DSGBV requires coordination across multiple Departments and agencies.
My colleague James Browne who has responsibility for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH), has advised me that his Department's role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual local authorities.
Local authorities and their service delivery partners work closely with all households in need of emergency accommodation to provide appropriate emergency accommodation, and the ultimate aim is to support them to secure an exit to a tenancy.
I am assured that DHLGH will ensure sufficient funding is made available for all required homeless services, including the provision of emergency accommodation, to support those at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
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