Funding of more than €1 million is being provided to build a refuge for people who have been subjected to domestic violence. The refuge will be located in Galway city and will be run by COPE.
The Department of Environment is to allocate €1.18 million for the building of the refuge. The fund is provided through the Department’s Capital Assistance Scheme, and will be allocated to the Galway City Council. The lease is held by Cope Galway, an approved housing body under the scheme.
The refuge, to be located in Forster Street, will be a nine unit facility, and provide temporary accommodation to persons forced to leave their homes due to domestic violence. The funding has been welcomed by Fine Gael Galway West TD Seán Kyne, who described domestic violence as "a terrible crime which should have no place in 21st century Ireland".
The allocation comes just after Ireland signed the Council of Europe’s Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, also known as the Istanbul Convention, and the recent publication of the Istanbul Convention Action Plan by the Minister for Justice, Frances Fitzgerald.
The Action Plan identifies the State agencies and Government departments responsible for achieving the plan's 18 points, and includes measures such as passing the new Domestic Violence Bill, establishing national helpline services, enhancing supports available to victims of gender-based and domestic violence, among other measures.
