448. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide a list of all women’s refuges in the country and the full year cost of running each of them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67154/26]

449. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the estimated full year cost of providing enough women’s refuge places to bring us in line with our commitments under the Istanbul convention. [67153/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 448 and 449 together.

This Government has taken unprecedented actions to tackle all forms of domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence (DSGBV). This includes increasing funding to almost €80 million under Budget 2026, to support Cuan and services working to tackle DSGBV and the implementation of the Zero Tolerance Strategy. The increased funding for Cuan and community organisations that support victims and survivors will accelerate the delivery of safe accommodation, while also providing stronger supports for victims.

Refuge units and safe homes provide a vital place of safety for families in crisis. The Government is determined to continue to establish units across the country to ensure that those supports are available when they are most needed.

Article 23 of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (the Istanbul Convention) obliges state parties, “to take the necessary legislative or other measures to provide for the setting-up of appropriate, easily accessible shelters in sufficient numbers to provide safe accommodation for and to reach out pro-actively to victims, especially women and their children.”

The Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO), the body of independent experts responsible for monitoring the implementation by the parties of the Convention, has assessed this provision as meaning that state parties should work towards a general goal of one family place per 10,000 head of population, which should be adapted to the actual need/demand in the particular country.

I am advised that the Department of Housing, under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) is providing capital funding for the delivery of new domestic violence refuges at an average per unit cost of approximately €588,000. It should be noted that a domestic violence refuge includes ancillary facilities and support spaces, as well as residential accommodation. As further refuge developments are delivered, the average capital cost is expected to increase.

Cuan funds 78 DSGBV organisations nationally, including 20 domestic violence refuges. An outline of funding provided by Cuan to DSGBV organisations nationwide, including 20 domestic violence refuges, can be found in Cuan's Annual Report for 2025 available here: assets.gov.ie/static/documents/18b3e20a/Cuan_Annual_Report_2025.pdf. This funding information includes other costs in addition to running costs, such as staffing costs. It is also important to note that some refuge providers receive funding from other sources which may contribute to funding their overall running costs.