Women's Aid has recorded its highest number of contacts in the organisation's 50-year history, with just under 34,000 disclosures of domestic violence against women and children. The abuse reported is horrific, broad and brutal. Domestic violence services are creaking at the seams. I am particularly mindful of the 12 women who died violently this year, and their families.

Last week I visited the Saoirse refuge in Rathcoole which, like others, faces the intolerable situation of turning women and children away because of a lack of space. Yet there is still no dedicated capital budget line in any Department to ramp up delivery of additional safe accommodation stock. Less than €2 million was provided this year to the new domestic, sexual and gender-based violence services and supports. We are now a year into the third strategy, and there is no vehicle for implementation of its ambition and purpose. The investment needed has simply not been provided by the Government. Will this be addressed in budget 2024?

I thank the Deputy. As I said earlier at a different event, the figures produced by Women's Aid are very concerning. Just this year so far, five women have been killed as a consequence of domestic and gender-based violence. It is something the Government is acting on and is very concerned about. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, is taking the lead in implementing the strategy in that regard. Last year for example, 12 additional safe homes were put into place and the total number will further increase from 32 to 50 by the end of this year.