The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien TD has announced funding approval of over €5 million for a new Domestic Violence Refuge in Wexford.
The project is being advanced by the Wexford Women’s Refuge group who have secured a site with the assistance of Wexford County Council. They have now finalised their design and have secured funding approval from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to go to tender.
The development of additional Domestic Violence Refuge spaces is a priority for the Government, particularly in the context of the imminent publication of the Third Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Strategy 2022-2026.
In February the Government published a ‘Review of the Provision of Accommodation for Victims of Domestic Violence’ carried out by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. That review highlighted gaps in the geographical coverage of safe accommodation for victims of domestic violence.
Work is actively underway across Government to advance new projects to meet the needs identified in the Tusla review and the early advancement of the new build Refuge in Wexford is an important action in helping to meet that need.
Commenting on the announcement, Minister O'Brien sai that he was "delighted" to be confirming the funding approval.
"This funding approval will allow the Wexford Women’s Refuge group to go to tender and I hope they will soon complete that process and move to commencing the construction as soon as possible, with the full support of my Department and Wexford County Council."
Welcoming the announcement, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said:
“In February, when it was announced that service provision for victims would come under my remit, I said that it was my goal that everyone that needs a refuge space will get one.
"This announcement today by my colleague Minister O’Brien is an important step in reaching that goal. It demonstrates the Government commitment to achieving our aim of a society where there is zero-tolerance for all forms of violence against women."
She continued: "We are in no doubt that as a State we need to dramatically increase the provision of refuges across the country, and key to this will be ensuring organisations, like the Wexford Women’s Refuge group, can access the funding needed to do so."
