Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 July 2025
614. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to estimate the capital cost of meeting Ireland’s obligations on refuge space as agreed under the Istanbul Convention (i.e., through building refuges) and the additional annual current spending necessary to operationalise the additional spaces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37157/25]
View answerCombatting all forms of 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 and Heritage through the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS).
To be of assistance, I contacted that Department. They have advised that the current average capital cost of providing one family refuge unit of domestic violence refuge accommodation and ancillary facilities in a purpose built domestic violence refuge, is €583,000.
It should be noted that one 12 unit refuge, in Wexford, has been completed and a final account budget agreed. A further 92 units across 7 priority areas are at various stages of the pre-construction or construction process and current approved budgets have been used to calculate this average figure.
As part of the Deputy's question relates to the cost of running a refuge, which falls within the remit of Cuan, I have referred this aspect of the question to the agency for direct response.
