Kerry gets millions to expand women's refuge as Laois waits for first safe space

The Government has given the green light for a €7.3 m expansion of domestic violence refuge in Kerry as part of a national expansion of services which also includes Laois where there is no refuge.

Just a after a multi-million euro new refuge opened in Wexford, a funding application to expand and redevelop the domestic violence refuge in Tralee has successfully passed the first stage of approval by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. 

While Laois waits for funding, the Kerry expansion will cost more than the new unit in Wexford which involved a €6.5 million investment of public money.

ADAPT Kerry, with the support of Kerry County Council, the Housing Agency and Cuan, the domestic abuse agency, wants increase the capacity of its refuge in Tralee from six to 13 units. It has received the green light for its Capital Assistance Scheme Stage 1 application.

The Department of Justice says Tralee is one of 18 priority locations identified for domestic violence refuge development as part of the Government’s work under Zero Tolerance, the Third National Strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, to double the number of refuge units.

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee spoke about the national situation.

“Last week, I was in Wexford to celebrate the opening of the refuge there, the first of many facilities being developed nationwide under the Zero Tolerance Strategy to open its doors to vulnerable women and children in the community.

“While it is the first to be completed, it really is just the beginning as there are a number of projects under development and expected to start construction within the next year.

“There are also plans for even more in high need areas around the country, including this project in Tralee. And I know that my colleagues in Cuan, the domestic, sexual and gender-based violence agency, are working hard to meet our target of doubling the number of refuge spaces available to meet the needs of these women and children,” she said.

Laois Domestic Abuse Service is partnering with Laois County Council and Cuan in the Laois project. A site has been procured and the project is being advanced.

Speaking after the Wexford refuge opened in September,  Marna Carroll, Service Director of Laois Domestic Abuse Service, told the Leinster Express / Laois Live that  she was optimistic that a tender for the Design Team and Project Management of the new refuge and support services development will be issued early in early 2025.

"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.

She was unable to confirm when the refuge, which has been sought for several years, would open as she said there is no 'benchmark' as too how long the process would take. 

The Department of Justice says Laois Domestic Abuse Service is the lead organisation in taking forward the development and is engaged in early-stage planning with key stakeholders working towards making an application to the Department of Housing for CAS funding later in 2024. It added that Cuan is supporting the local interagency group in progressing the development, which includes representation from Laois County Council.