Wait continues for Laois domestic violence refuge as €6.5 m safe space opens in Wexford

It will be 2025 before bids are invited to construct the first domestic violence refuge in Laois according to the local agency tasked with leading the creation of safe space for families.

The latest timeframe for delivering the long-sought refuge in Laois was revealed after the Minister for Justice officially opened a new €6.5 million domestic violence refuge in Wexford. 

The Government, through the Capital Assistance Fund and Cuan, funded the build and says it will support the new 12 family unit refuge. A statement from the Department of Justice said Wexford is the first of 18 priority locations to complete construction on a new domestic violence refuge as part of the Government’s work under Zero Tolerance, the national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.

Laois is one of the priority locations for new centres. The Leinster Express / Laois Live asked the Department of Justice for an update on its development. 

"With respect to Laois, a site has been purchased by Laois County Council that has been determined as suitable for development of the refuge. The Laois Domestic Abuse Service is the lead organisation taking forward the development and is currently engaged in early-stage planning with key stakeholders working towards making an application to the Department of Housing for CAS funding later in 2024. Cuan is supporting the local interagency group in progressing the development, which includes representation from Laois County Council," it said.

Marna Carroll is the Service Director of the Laois Domestic Abuse Service which has been helping women and children for nearly 20 years in Laois without the backup of a local refuge. She gave an update on what's involved in the Laois project and the timeframe for delivery. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Pictured: The new Wexford hub is located near the Wexford Rape Crisis Centre.

“Phenomenal work has been carried out by so many people, to bring this vision to fruition – local refuge accommodation in Laois for women and children that are fleeing domestic abuse. The new development will encompass a refuge and support services hub – which will offer all the existing supports that are in place from Laois Domestic Abuse Service in addition to offer eight accommodation units (of varying size) and a range of additional supports for women and children who’ll be resident in refuge.

"I'm optimistic that the tender for the design team and project management of the new refuge and support services development will be issued early next year. I'd like to thank everyone who has been involved in getting us this far – the trojan work of the members of the refuge working group; the board and Staff of Laois Domestic Abuse Service; Laois County Council and the welcome expertise of the Department of Housing, The Housing Agency and Cuan.

"I look forward to significant progress being made in 2025 and want to state that this has only been possible because of the incredible community support we’ve had since we first opened our doors in Co Laois,” she said.

However, she was not in position to give a timeframe on when the Laois refuge would be be completed and open.

"The experience across the country has been varied and so we don't have a benchmark in relation to how long it's going to take," she said.

The Department of Justice said the new Wexford refuge is a modern space that can facilitate "wraparound" and ancillary services, including a therapeutic space, family room, and a common room. It added that the facility will also serve as a hub to facilitate community and outreach initiatives to support vulnerable families in the community.

The Wexford opening was attended by the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien.

Minister O'Brien said similar projects are under development and expected to start construction within the next year.