Minister Jim O’Callaghan launches €3.2 million funding call to expand domestic, sexual and gender-based violence services
- Published on: 7 July 2025
- Last updated on: 7 July 2025
- targeted funding call from Cuan opens 7 July 2025 and closes 4 August 2025
- €3.2 million is available through this call to support service expansion and innovation
The Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan, has today announced the opening of a targeted funding call by Cuan, the national agency for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. The call opens today (7 July) and closes on Monday, 4 August 2025.
This funding call to services forms part of the delivery of the €67 million provided to Cuan in Budget 2025, which included €7 million in additional funding for new refuge provision, expanded services, and sectoral research.
€3.2 million is being made available through this call to support service expansion and innovation.
Proposals that include the following focus areas will be particularly welcomed:
- expand adolescent counselling for sexual violence
- improve service access for marginalised or underserved groups
- strengthen helplines and frontline training
- develop prevention work, including perpetrator programmes.
Minister Jim O’Callaghan said:
“The government committed to ensuring that the significant investment provided to Cuan in Budget 2025 leads to practical, measurable improvements for people who need support.
“€3.2 million is available in this targeted call which will enable services to come forward with new ideas and proposals to expand access and strengthen their vital work. I want to thank Cuan for their leadership in working with the sector to deliver on this next phase.”
Additional funding requests are informed by reliable, up to date information and aligned with commitments set out in the Third National Strategy to combat domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.
The Cuan Hub, a system to support funding applications and arrangements with service delivery partners has been operational since December 2024. The Cuan Hub will facilitate applications under this call.
CEO of Cuan, Dr Stephanie O’Keefe said:
“This call builds on our engagement with the sector. With the financial and non-financial data now validated, and the Cuan Hub fully in place, we can move forward with confidence and clarity.
“The funding of €3.2 million being made available through this call will allow us to respond to clear service gaps, invest in prevention, and support services working with those most at risk. We’re proud to launch this next phase of support for frontline organisations.”
Call for applications
All applications must be submitted via the Cuan Hub, the agency’s centralised online platform for service planning, funding, and reporting. Full details of the eligibility criteria, assessment process and submission requirements are also available.
A link and related documentation for the targeted funding call will be issued by Cuan.
Following the submission period and on completion of proposal reviews, Cuan will engage with the Department of Justice on final funding recommendations.
Notes
Cuan was established in 2024 as Ireland’s statutory agency for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.
€67 million has been allocated to Cuan for 2025, this includes an additional €7 million on 2024 funding for refuge provision and research. €2.4 million of the additional €7 million is allocated and is already being drawn down to support accommodation provision (22 new refuges and for new safe homes), a further €1.4 million, is supporting existing level service costs relating to the full year 2025 costs for various initiatives and programmes funded in 2023 and 2024.
Cuan funds 78 services nationwide and recently completed a full financial and non-financial data validation process supported by the new Cuan Hub. This validation means Cuan can now quantify what additional services will be delivered with the new funding and assess the impact of the increased budget in service delivery terms.
Perpetrator Programmes are funded by Cuan, including the Choices programme, facilitated by MOVE (MOVE Ireland) & MEND (Men’s Development Network). It focuses on accountability and behaviour change to enhance the safety of victims and families. They are facilitated on a voluntary and court mandated basis (subject to a suitability assessment). Court mandated referrals are based on review of a Probation Service report, which may include a recommendation for assessment for suitability. Other state organisations may refer, or the perpetrator may self-refer. Where the court mandates attendance the Probation Service monitors the attendance.