First Of 18 Domestic Violence Refuges To Open Today.

First of 18 domestic, sexual & gender based violence refuges will open today.

• The €6.5m facility consists of 12 family units with provision for wraparound services.
• It is the first newly-built Domestic, Sexual & Gender Based Violence (DSGBV) refuge to be delivered under the Zero-Tolerance strategy.
• Security and privacy for service users are core design principles.

The first new, €6.5 million domestic violence refuge will be opened today in Co. Wexford.

The Capital Assistance Fund and Cuan, funded by the taxpayer, will continue to support this new refuge, which consists of 12 family units. Wexford is the first of 18 such priority locations to complete construction on this new domestic violence refuge.

The facility was developed by Wexford Women’s Refuge in co-operation with Wexford County Council. It is located close to Wexford Rape Crisis Centre, which will ensure the provision of wraparound services for the women and children who are forced to use the refuge.

The building contains a total of 12 family units, including a fully accessible disability unit. It replaces the existing four-unit facility in the town, which is no longer considered fit for purpose. Each unit in the new facility contains a bedroom, kitchen/living area, and bathroom, and can accommodate a family of one mother and her children.

The building was designed and built in line with the Department of Housing’s ‘Project Brief Design Guidelines for Domestic Violence Accommodation’. This document incorporates Safe Ireland’s guidance on DSGBV accommodation design as outlined in its ‘Safe Spaces’ project. Security and privacy for service users are core design principles.

The primary purpose of this new facility is to provide refuge and respite accommodation to domestic, sexual and gender based violence victims and their families. In addition, the facility has been designed as a modern space that can facilitate a range of wraparound and ancillary services, including a therapeutic space, family room, and a common room.

The facility will also serve as a hub to facilitate community and outreach initiatives to support vulnerable families in the community. Wexford Women’s Refuge is a long-time recipient of funding via Tusla and the Department of Justice.

Cuan, the Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency, which was established in January of this year, has taken over the administration of all funding for the refuge.

In March of this year (2024) some 43 organisations were deemed successful for additional funding for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence services, following an evaluation process conducted by Tusla, with Tipperary Rape Crisis Centre receiving €32,000.00 of an extra €6.3 million of provided funding.