Site visits conducted for DV violence refuge

The national domestic, sexual and gender-based violence agency, Cuan, is actively in the process of identifying sites in the Cavan Monaghan region for the development of a new eight-unit domestic violence refuge.

Dr Stephanie O’Keeffe, CEO of Cuan, confirmed that the agency is currently working with Safe Ireland, Cavan and Monaghan county councils and the Department of Housing to advance the refuge project.

The update came by way of response to a Parliamentary Question posted by Deputy Brendan Smith in the Dáil.

Site visits have been conducted with key stakeholders including Safe Ireland, the lead approved housing body, both local authorities, the Department of Housing, and the Housing Agency to assess potential locations.

Additionally, Safe Ireland’s Cavan-Monaghan branch has received extra resources to expand emergency refuge and Safe Home accommodation services.

Deputy Smith said he is “pleased to hear” that sites are now being undertaken to advance the “much-needed refuge” in Cavan-Monaghan

“Access to safe accommodation and support services is absolutely essential, especially for individuals and families in rural communities like ours.

“This facility is urgently needed in the Cavan-Monaghan area. Right now, neither county has a dedicated centre for victims of domestic abuse, and those affected have been waiting far too long for this vital support,” he said.

“I will continue to work closely with the Minister, Cuan, and all parties involved in this project to ensure the refuge is delivered as quickly as possible,” added Deputy Smith.

Currently, nearly three-quarters of Ireland’s population can reach a refuge within 30 minutes. Cuan’s Corporate Plan 2025 to 2027 commits to further expanding this access, with a strong focus on rural and underserved areas such as Cavan-Monaghan.

The plan for this region follows the publication in June 2022 of an ambitious €363M five-year, Zero Tolerance Strategy, which sets out a commitment to provide access to a refuge space to anyone who needs one.

The Government committed to working with the sector to increase the number of refuge spaces to 280 by the end of 2026.

The issue has been raised numerous times over the past few years however people in Cavan and Monaghan are still waiting on a dedicated local refuge.