Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2026
189. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will provide funding to family resource centres to employ support workers to support people fleeing domestic violence situations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73426/25]
View answerCombatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and ensuring that victims and survivors receive the support and care they need is an absolute priority for me.
Cuan, the Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency, is investing significant resources into supporting people fleeing domestic violence situations. Cuan directly funds 78 DSGBV organisations around the country, providing support and assistance to victims and survivors of DSGBV, including to parents and families who have fled domestic violence situations. In 2025 Cuan disbursed a total of approximately €58.4 million to DSGBV services.
Cuan’s 2026 budget allocation represents an increase of 18% on 2025, and this increased budget will significantly strengthen Cuan’s ability to support the provision of DSGBV services, particularly the expansion of safe accommodation capacity.
The expansion of safe accommodation capacity is a core target of the Zero Tolerance Strategy. Cuan has a target to increase the number of refuge units in 2026 to 193, and to increase safe homes to 94, bringing total safe accommodation units in Ireland to 287 by the end of 2026. In addition, Cuan is aiming to have 50 new refuge units under construction across multiple sites nationally in 2026.
The provision of wraparound and ancillary services – such as therapeutic spaces and family rooms – is a central part of the planning, development and expansion of refuge capacity. This is in order to ensure that people fleeing domestic violence situations not only have a safe place to stay, but access to the wide range of supports they need.
I am advised that Family Resource Centres are supported through Tusla, the Child and Family Agency’s Family and Community Services Resource Centre Programme. Resourcing and support for the staffing of these centres is, therefore, primarily a matter for Tusla and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality.
