State’s next domestic and sexual violence strategy must be a whole-of-Government plan, advocates say

'Domestic and sexual violence intersects housing, health, education, social protection and justice in ways that no single department is equipped to address alone'

Cuan chief executive Stephanie O’Keeffe said 30 new refuge and safe home spaces for people fleeing domestic violence were created last year — bringing the total to 172 units.

The State’s next domestic and sexual violence strategy must be a whole-of-Government plan “in substance, not just in name”, the agency charged with implementing it has said.

Cuan, the State domestic and sexual violence body, said the issue crosses so many departments and areas and an appropriately strong coordination system was required.

In Cuan’s annual report 2025, chair Professor Caroline Fennell said the fourth national zero tolerance strategy would be led by the Department of Justice.

“The board’s position is that this must be a whole-of-Government strategy in substance, not just in name. DSGBV [domestic, sexual and gender-based violence] intersects with housing, health, education, social protection and justice in ways that no single department is equipped to address alone,” Prof Fennell said.

“The ambition of each relevant Government department, and the accountability mechanisms in existence between and across them, must be fit for the scale of that challenge.” 

The UCC law professor said the board acknowledged justice minister Jim O’Callaghan had made resources available to address “current resourcing and system challenges”.

But she said the board’s perspective on “staffing resources and capability” was focused less on a given year but more on the “case for long-term investment”.

Cuan chief executive Stephanie O’Keeffe said 30 new refuge and safe home spaces for people fleeing domestic violence were created last year — bringing the total to 172 units.

She said Cuan allocated €58.4m in public funds across 78 services in 2025, €7m more than 2024. Cuan received an increase of €12.25m in 2026.

The report said the 78 services supported more than 33,500 people in 2025, including about 29,400 adults, 1,230 adolescents and 2,930 children.

Ms O’Keeffe said a call-out for funding last year attracted 160 applications, requesting a total of more than €12m against €3.2m available, highlighting the “scale of unmet need” in the country.

She said 2025 was Cuan’s first full year of operation and said demand for services “continues to rise”.

The report says Cuan is working to deliver a further 32 new family refuge units by the end of 2026, with an additional 18 units under construction for delivery in 2027.

“Safe Home provision will also continue to expand, with 34 additional units progressing to bring projected national capacity to 94 safe homes by 2027.”

As part of the Zero Tolerance Strategy 2022-2026, the Government committed to doubling domestic violence accommodation capacity, from 141 to 282 family units by the end of this year.