Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 December 2025
98. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if consideration will be given to opening a new domestic violence refuge space in Kildare north in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68390/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraCombatting 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 has been working to accelerate the delivery of refuge spaces across the country, since its establishment last year.
By the end of 2024, 14 of 18 priority locations had identified a site, one new refuge had opened and another had started construction. Estimated delivery timelines were worked through for all priority locations.
Following a request from me, Cuan undertook a progress review and set out actions to further speed up delivery. On foot of this review, completed in Spring of this year, the following will be delivered by the end of 2026:
• 52 new family refuge units
• 45 new safe homes
• with 50 new units under construction.
At the outset of the zero-tolerance strategy there were 49 safe homes in place. By the end of 2026 it is envisaged that 94 safe homes and 193 refuge units will be completed, bringing total safe accommodation to 287, with 50 further refuge units under construction.
There are currently no plans to develop a new domestic violence refuge space in Kildare north in 2026. Teach Tearmainn currently leads the provision of refuge and Safe Home accommodation, as well as children’s supports, outreach, and court accompaniment in County Kildare. It currently operates four refuge units. There are also two safe home accommodation units in the county. Cuan provided Teach Tearmainn with €915,000 in 2024 and has allocated provisional funding of €930,000 for 2025. Cuan will continue to work with Teach Tearmainn to develop service provision.
While currently almost three quarters of the population in the State is within 30 minutes of a refuge location, Cuan is acutely aware of the need to improve on this and to ensure that services are accessible to everyone living in rural and urban areas. Achieving this, including through the completion of a National Services Development Plan, is a core objective of Cuan’s Corporate Plan 2025-2027, which was published at the end of last year.
