Just 36 new refuge spaces were open in the last two years despite calls for the Government to drastically increase provisions across the country.
Figures released to Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald show that three counties have lost refuge spaces in the last two years, while seven gained no additional places.
Tusla confirmed to the TD that 181 domestic violence accommodation units were operational in 2022.
This was up from 145 units that were normally operational in 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic and 140 spaces that were in use in 2021.
A report from Tusla in February 2022 stated that 60 new family places/units need to be put in place “urgently”.
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Ireland also has far fewer than the 470 refuge spaces required under the Istanbul convention.
The figures were released to Ms McDonald from Tusla following a parliamentary question to then-Justice Minister Heather Humphreys in December.
The data showed that Tipperary, Waterford and Sligo all lost one refuge space each between 2020 and 2022, while provisions in Limerick, Kerry, Wicklow, Clare, Mayo, Kildare and Wexford all remained static.
Over the two year period, 14 new spaces were created in Dublin, while 10 were created in Cork.
Galway gained five refuge spaces and three new spaces were built in Louth and Meath. Capacity was increased by two spaces in Kilkenny, while one space was created in both Donegal and Westmeath.
In response to Ms McDonald’s query, Tusla said that “in line with the priority which the Irish government is attaching to tackling domestic, sexual and gender based violence, Tusla will double the number of refuge spaces over the lifetime of the strategy, bringing it to 280”.
It said: “It will deliver 24 new refuge spaces by the end of 2024.”
Speaking to the Irish Mirror, Ms McDonald said that while the publication of the Third National Strategy and Implementation Plan marked a step change by the Government in tackling and eliminating domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, more needs to be done.
“Strong as the Strategy is, it falls woefully short on refuge provision, oversight, and the multi-annual budgets needed to deliver on its commitments,” the Sinn Féin leader said.
“These are big challenges that must be overcome, and quickly.
“Ireland is not meeting its legal obligations under the Istanbul Convention on refuge provision and the stark reality is that this will not change over the lifetime of the Strategy unless there is a rapid upscaling of safe accommodation for victims and their children with the appropriate wraparound supports and services.
“It is my expectation that the Department of Justice, with the support of the Taoiseach [Leo Varadkar], and his officials will work with Safe Ireland and the existing network of local Domestic Violence services to ramp up delivery of safe accommodation and refuge places.
“Critically current Government funding must be increased in 2023 to deliver the initial 60 new family places/units identified by Tusla in February 2022 to be prioritised urgently to address areas of under-provision.“
It is hoped 55 safe houses will be in place in 2023, an increase from 32. The number of refuge spaces will be doubled over the lifetime of the Government's third national strategy on domestic violence, bringing the total number to 280.
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