POTENTIAL SITES BEING SOUGHT FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE REFUGE

A stakeholders meeting on the provision of a domestic violence refuge in the Cavan/Monaghan area has initiated a search for potential locations for the facility. “It’s hoped that a site could be identified in Cavan or Monaghan before the end of this year,” Fianna Fáil TD Niamh Smyth, who hosted the meeting, told the Northern Standard this week. “Funding is readily available for this project, which is being led by Safe Ireland, and the stakeholders are resolved to move it swiftly to delivery.” Last week’s meeting was attended by representations from Safe Ireland, Tearmann Domestic Violence Services,

An Garda Síochána, Cavan and Monaghan Co Councils, Tusla and the Department of Housing. “This meeting was, like our initial engagement, productive,” Deputy Smyth stated. “Everyone went away from it knowing what they need to do to progress matters in the most efficient way – they know what assistance is available to them and we work together to deliver this key project for this region. “Since the group last met, we received a renewed commitment from the Government for the delivery of refuge spaces for Cavan/Monaghan as part of its Zero Tolerance strategy to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.

“This €363 million strategy is built on four pillars – Protection, Prevention, Prosecution and Policy Co-ordination – and Its central aim is Zero Tolerance of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in our…