Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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47. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to provide an update on progress in respect of the 50 safe houses; the number that have been completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38145/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Combatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) is a priority for me and my Department.

This is reflected in our policies, legislative proposals and in increased budgetary allocations in recent years. The extent of our ambition in this regard is set out in our whole of Government Zero Tolerance Strategy to combat all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, better support victims and survivors and create a society that does accept the behaviours and attitudes that underpin these terrible crimes.

Central to delivering on the Zero Tolerance goal of this strategy was the establishment of Cuan, the statutory based domestic, sexual and gender-based violence agency which I was delighted to formally open in February of this year.

Cuan has a mandate to drive the implementation of the strategy across Government, bringing the expertise and focus required to tackle this complex social issue and it will work collaboratively with the NGO and DSGBV services sector to ensure that the best possible services are in place to meet the needs of victims and survivors.

As part of its remit, Cuan has responsibility for the provision of DSGBV services, including the provision and funding of refuge spaces and are working with the sector and with relevant Government Departments and agencies to deliver on the commitment to double the number of refuge spaces across the country, bringing it to 280 by the end of the timeframe of this current Strategy.

Earlier this month, I was delighted to launch a new 12 unit refuge in Wexford - the first of 18 priority locations to complete construction - and just last week, €7.3 million in funding was provided to progress the building of new refuge units in Kerry under the Capital Assistance Scheme.

The opening of the new units in Wexford means there are 162 domestic violence units across the country, with four more expected to come online in Louth before the end of the year and construction of a further 12 units in Kilcross in Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown also beginning before the end of this year.

There are at present 82 units undergoing funding approval through the Capital Assistance Scheme, with a further 10 proposals under review by colleagues in Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

There are another 19 units that have been identified as potential development opportunities by Cuan and our planning and delivery pipeline is growing stronger all the time.

Given the number of projects in the pipeline, we are on course to deliver on the ambitious target of doubling the number of refuge spaces.

This is happening alongside our work to increase the number of Safe Homes - another form of emergency domestic violence accommodation - which are an important part of the response.

We are on-track to deliver 10 new safe homes this year - bringing the total to 60, and are working with the sector and local authorities to identify housing stock to secure a further six safe homes by year-end.