Press release
Minister McEntee details €6.3m in additional funding for domestic and sexual violence services
Published on
Last updated on
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD, has announced details of additional funding for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) services following a targeted open call.
An extra €6.3m funding is being provided this year to established DSGBV service providers including:
• €2.5m to address critical needs and emerging demands for domestic violence services;
• €1.3m to address critical needs and emerging demands for sexual violence services; and
• €2.5m for refuge and safe home development
More than €5.4m of this funding is being allocated immediately with the remainder assigned to support projects which will deliver additional refuge places as they progress throughout the year.
Minister McEntee said:
“This additional 6.3 million in funding is testament to this Government’s steadfast commitment to tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and to supporting the services on the frontline who are supporting victims.
"We know more people are seeking help from domestic, sexual and gender-based violence services, and we are determined to ensure that the necessary supports and staffing is there to meet the demands across the country, including for young people and in rural areas.
"The extra 2.5 million for safe accommodation is particularly important, and will help deliver additional refuge spaces in our priority locations.”
Some 43 organisations were deemed successful following an evaluation process conducted by Tusla in collaboration with the Department of Justice. The funding from individual organisations ranges from €10,000 to more than €420,000.
A full list of successful applicants is listed below and includes national organisations such as Women’s Aid and Barnardos, as well as local services such as Wexford Rape Crisis Centre and Longford Women’s Link.
Last November, established DSGBV organisations were invited to submit requirements or proposals for additional funding in a number of areas ,including to ensure greater coverage in rural areas for domestic violence series, and to help meet the needs of young people requiring sexual violence services.
The €2.5m for safe accommodation is focused on the priority sites identified under the Zero Tolerance Strategy, with a significant portion allocated to the staffing of new refuges.
The additional funding will be overseen by the new DSGBV agency Cuan.
Cuan has been allocated a total budget of approximately €59 million for 2024 which represents a record increase in funding for combatting domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in Ireland. This significant funding will support the implementation of the Zero Tolerance Strategy and will assist Cuan in meeting the needs of victims and survivors of DSGBV around the country.
Dr Stephanie O’Keeffe, CEO of Cuan said,
“This additional funding will help expand services and supports around the country and help address unmet need with a focus on those with additional vulnerabilities or complex needs.
“This funding is also a sign of the important collaboration between the DSGBV services sector and Cuan, as we work to build partnerships and become a driving force for Zero tolerance for DSGBV in Ireland.”
Of the €59 million assigned to Cuan for this year, €44 million is for frontline service delivery. This allocation for frontline service delivery includes an additional €7.9 million secured by Minister McEntee.
Within the €59 million budget for Cuan, the Department of Justice has also allocated €4.25 million for providing funding to promote and assist the development of specific support services for victims and survivors of DSGBV within the criminal justice system.
The Department of Justice has also prioritised an allocation for awareness raising campaigns and funding for perpetrator programmes.
Ends../
Notes for Editor:
An Ghníomhaireacht um Fhoréigean Baile, Gnéasach agus Inscnebhunaithe, or Cuan, is a statutory agency under the remit of the Department of Justice dedicated to tackling and reducing domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV). Cuan was established on 1 January 2024 in statute via the Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency Act 2023.
List of successful organisations
| Number | Organisation Name | Funding |
| 1 | ADAPT DAS | €104,744.95 |
| 2 | Adapt Kerry Limited | €64,127.66 |
| 3 | Aoibhneas Ltd | €233,769.00 |
| 4 | Bray Womens Refuge | €45,476.00 |
| 5 | Clare Haven Services Ltd | €60,861.00 |
| 6 | Cope Galway | €133,523.00 |
| 7 | Cuan Saor | €30,000.00 |
| 8 | Cuanlee Ltd | €154,125.00 |
| 9 | Donegal Womens Refuge | €59,100.00 |
| 10 | Drogheda Womens Refuge | €169,000.00 |
| 11 | Esker House Domestic Abuse Support Service | €165,913.00 |
| 12 | Amber Kilkenny Womens Refuge | €142,000.00 |
| 13 | Meath Women's Aid Housing Association CLG | €323,986.00 |
| 14 | Oasis | €304,684.00 |
| 15 | Saoirse Domestic Abuse Services | €296,000.00 |
| 16 | Sonas | €40,078.87 |
| 17 | Wexford Womens Refuge | €560,897.31 |
| 18 | Womens Aid Dundalk Ltd. | €300,310.00 |
| 19 | Barnardos | €80,000.00 |
| 20 | Domestic Violence Advocacy Service (DVAS) | €180,000.00 |
| 21 | Good Shepherd Cork | €77,000.00 |
| 22 | Laois Domestic Abuse Service | €82,888.00 |
| 23 | Longford Womens Link | €105,312.00 |
| 24 | Mens Development Network | €85,000.00 |
| 25 | Ascend Domestic Abuse Service For Women – NTDC | €45,462.00 |
| 26 | Offaly DV Support Services | €22,000.00 |
| 27 | One Stop Shop Cork (OSS Cork) | €36,030.00 |
| 28 | Roscommon Safelink Ltd | €108,800.00 |
| 29 | Teach Tearmainn Housing Association CLG | €27,709.00 |
| 30 | Womens Aid | €102,663.00 |
| 31 | Y.A.N.A -your Are Not Alone DC/DV | €92,630.00 |
| 32 | Athlone Rape Crisis Centre | €10,000.00 |
| 33 | Donegal Rape Crisis Centre | €142,247.00 |
| 34 | Dublin Rape Crisis Centre | €421,315.00 |
| 35 | Galway Rape Crisis Centre | €269,609.00 |
| 36 | Kerry Rape Crisis Centre | €28,049.00 |
| 37 | Kilkenny Rape Crisis Centre | €11,505.00 |
| 38 | Sligo Rape Crisis & Sexual Abuse Counselling | €40,000.00 |
| 39 | Rape Crisis Midwest Ltd | €55,617.00 |
| 40 | Tullamore RCC | €36,087.00 |
| 41 | Cork Rape Crisis Centre T/A Sexual Violence Centre Cork | €70,000.00 |
| 42 | Tipperary Rape Crisis Centre | €32,000.00 |
| 43 | Wexford Rape Crisis Centre | €70,000.00 |
Evaluation Criteria
Applications were evaluated based on the following principles:
• Evidence of fit with the Third National Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Strategy.
• Evidence of fit with the Justice Strategy 2023.
• Victim/Survivor evidenced submissions- demonstrating how service users have participated in the planning or how they have informed the service proposal.
• Targeted responses to address unmet need geographically and/or for those with additional vulnerabilities or complex needs.
• Submissions that support therapeutic responses to young people who have experienced sexual violence/abuse from organisations that have the capacity to provide these services to a high standard.
• Initiatives that evidence need and/or successful outcomes.
• Developments that provide sustainability into service delivery.
• Submissions that demonstrate collaborative approaches.
• Submissions that demonstrate Value for Money on outputs.
Refuge Accommodation and Safe Homes
One of the key actions in the Third National Strategy is doubling, the number of refuge spaces during the lifetime of the Strategy to 280 refuge spaces.
Development of 36 refuge units are already progressing across Wexford, Dundalk and Navan with the first of these due to open in Autumn 2024. In 2024, Cuan will additionally be increasing the number of Safe Homes by a further 35%.
There are high levels of activation across all of the priority locations which include the following:
• Wexford
• Dundalk
• Navan
• Sligo
• Cavan/Monaghan
• Cork city
• North Cork
• West Cork
• Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown
• Westmeath
• Laois
• Balbriggan
• Longford
• Carlow
• Offaly
We also have levels of activation in the following locations:
• Kerry
• Clare
• Roscommon
Safe Homes - another form of emergency domestic violence accommodation, are an important part of the response and are usually provided as a separate unit of accommodation, for example a flat or a house, at a community or local level. It generally suits those at low to medium risk of serious harm. At the end of 2023, the number of Safe Homes had increased by 17, bringing the total number of available Safe Homes to 49 and we are anticipating an additional 12 Safe Homes will be made available in 2024.
Cuan will continue working with the sector and the Department of Housing on the provision of refuge accommodation and Safe Homes.