At the outset, I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this matter. I welcome the Minister. His presence here, as the senior Minister, to deal with this issue is an indication of his commitment to the whole area of dealing with domestic violence. I am very heartened by that, irrespective of how we get on debating the matter.

I want to highlight an urgent gap in essential services for women and children in County Cavan. Despite national commitments to expand refuge capacity and strengthen support for those fleeing domestic violence, Cavan remains without a purpose-built refuge facility. Across the country, we have made significant progress in improving responses to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, yet the absence of a dedicated refuge in Cavan stands in stark contrast to the local community's need. Women in crisis should not have to travel long distances across county boundaries or face uncertainty at the very moment they are seeking safe shelter.

At present, a woman in Cavan who needs emergency protection has to leave the county to find it. That is the simple truth. For many women, that journey is not easy. It means leaving behind their community and whatever support network they have. It adds pressure at a time when they already face enormous fear and uncertainty.

We must also recognise that providing this refuge is not just about responding to emergencies; it is also about sending a clear message about the kind of country we want to be. Cavan is a place that values community, fairness and looking out for one another. A refuge reflects those values in a very real way. It shows that when someone is in danger, we do not turn away or expect them to manage on their own. We step up, we put the supports in place and we make sure help is available close to home where it is needed most.

We are developing safe homes, which are welcome and will help, but this is not enough on its own. A county of Cavan’s size and with its strong communities should not be without a refuge. It is a basic service that people expect to be available locally, just as it is in other parts of the country. Local organisations are doing incredible work. They are supporting families, often in very difficult circumstances, but they cannot continue to bear the full weight of this issue without the proper infrastructure being in place. They need a facility that provides the space and capacity to respond quickly when someone is in danger.

This is about providing a safe, secure place for women and children when they have nowhere else to go. It is about giving them certainty in a moment when their world has been turned upside down. It is about ensuring that Cavan is not left behind as national services expand. People in Cavan deserve the same access to protection as anyone else in the country and with the right focus and decisions, we can finally deliver the refuge the county has needed for far too long. I look forward to the response from the Minister as this is a real human issue. This is not some fanciful notion; it is very important on the ground.

I thank Senator O’Reilly for raising this very important Commencement matter. A huge part of my portfolio is ensuring there is a full response to the scourge of domestic violence. As Senator O’Reilly will know, one of the avenues down which I must go as a response is ensuring that we do have refuge spaces and safe accommodation for women, and predominantly it is women, fleeing domestic violence in order that they can be accommodated in the short term.

The policy in respect of this area is worked through the statutory agency that has been set up and is under the control of my Department, namely, Cuan. It is engaging with various stakeholders, including approved housing bodies, AHBs, the Department of housing, the Housing Agency and local authorities to facilitate local action and support service development and the delivery of refuges and safe accommodation throughout the country.

As Senator O’Reilly indicated, there is no refuge or safe accommodation in County Cavan at present. When I started in this job 15 months ago, one of the things I wanted to look at and that stood out to me was that there was no refuge in Cavan-Monaghan. This area is presented as a constituency but, as Senator O’Reilly will know, it is a very broad geographical area. As he will know as well, there has been progress in the Cavan-Monaghan region in respect of a proposal for a refuge site in Monaghan. The capital assistance scheme, CAS, stage 1 application for a refuge site in Monaghan was approved by the Department of housing last October. Work is ongoing towards submitting a stage 2 application in Monaghan, which will include further detail and costings on the full extent of the works required. The CAS process takes, on average, 75 weeks, with construction taking between 15 to 18 months. Safe Ireland is the lead approved housing body on this development in Monaghan.

Notwithstanding the fact that we are moving down the pathway of having a refuge in Monaghan, it has become increasingly apparent to me that we need one in Cavan as well. I am advised that Cuan, which is under my control, is currently considering future options for potential refuge provision in Cavan in parallel with the progression of the refuge site identified in Monaghan.

Following engagement by Cuan with service providers and other stakeholders, including Cavan County Council, it has become apparent that there is an urgent need for a refuge not just in Monaghan but in Cavan as well. It is an important step that I make that statement in terms of achieving what Senator O’Reilly and other representatives from Cavan-Monaghan, including Deputies Brendan Smith and Niamh Smyth, have sought in respect of it as well.

I have written to my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy James Browne, requesting that a refuge for Cavan be prioritised in the next phase of refuge development. This will ensure that we are not delaying the provision of refuge services for victims of domestic violence. Adding Cavan to the priority list of developments will allow for site selection and the planning process to commence.

It is a positive answer that I have been able to give to Senator O’Reilly. A decision has been made that we do need a refuge centre in Cavan as well as in Monaghan. Now that I have written to the Minister, Deputy Browne, that process has commenced. I obviously cannot guarantee that we will have a refuge in Cavan within a very short time but the process has commenced. It is a bit behind what is happening in Monaghan but it is unquestionably the case that the direction of travel for the Government and me is to ensure that we have refuges in both Monaghan and Cavan.

I again thank the Minister for being here and for his overall proactive approach. I am delighted with this response in that he has clearly, publicly and on the record of the House - and he does not do that lightly - committed to delivering this project to Cavan, and that he has put processes in place to so do, including being in touch with the Minister, Deputy Browne, on the issue. I am extremely happy that this will be the case. There is no need to repeat the argument only to say that it is so important for those victims and is so important that this facility be in their county within their communities and with whatever support they can access otherwise. I am very happy with the Minister's response and grateful that it is going to come on stream.

Mar fhocal scoir, I urge the Minister to make sure that this happens as quickly as possible. Knowing his form, I think I do not need to worry on this.

I thank the Senator. He is right. It is important that representatives, such as himself, keep the pressure on politicians and Ministers, such as myself, to ensure that these commitments are followed through with. The fact that the decision has been made and I have written to the Minister, Deputy Browne, indicates the pathway has clearly been commenced.

I should also point out that as well as the development of the new refuge in Monaghan to serve the Cavan-Monaghan region, both Cavan and Monaghan county councils have committed to the allocation of three units from their social housing stock, which will deliver additional safe homes across the region. Cuan is now working with Safe Ireland to finalise operational and staffing costs. All six units will become operational this year. Those safe homes are very important as well. They are places where women fleeing domestic violence can go.

Safe Ireland Cavan-Monaghan is the primary domestic violence service provider in both Cavan and Monaghan. It is the lead domestic violence service provider progressing the development of the new refuge facility for the region as part of the zero-tolerance strategy. I am advised that Safe Ireland is working with the stakeholder group to create a solid infrastructure and a coherent connected response across both counties.

I will keep working on it and no doubt the Senator will raise it again. We will keep a close eye on its progress.