Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence
Seanad Éireann — 2026-05-06
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John Cummins (FG), Waterford

I thank the Senator again for raising this very important matter. She referred to a pilot scheme. I am sure that is something on which she will engage with the Minister. Obviously, the responsibility lies with the Department of justice, but I accept that a joined-up, cross-departmental and multi-agency approach to this issue has to be to the fore. As public representatives, we have all dealt with very difficult cases of domestic abuse. My office in Waterford has dealt with some very harrowing cases.
There are some really good examples where refuges help those women in particular who end up needing to avail of their services to navigate the process of availing of local authority supports. Some local authorities have integrated action teams in place where the HSE sits alongside agencies and the local authority. This model works well in my own constituency in Waterford, because we have to have that joined-up thinking. There are some excellent schemes in place and local authorities have the ability to deliver under all of them. We need to see more delivery of social, affordable and cost-rental homes. We also need to ensure that joined-up thinking occurs across all of the agencies and statutory bodies. This particular area needs added focus. There is no question about that.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-05-06/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:54+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-05-06