Cabinet's final pre-election meeting to discuss domestic violence and Palestinian ambassador

There will be 16 new refuge units operational by the end of 2024, Justice Minister Helen McEntee will tell Cabinet today.

As Ministers meet in the Government Building for their final time before a general election is called, Ms McEntee will provide the cabinet with a half-year update on her Zero Tolerance Plan to Tackle Domestic, Sexual, and Gender-based Violence.

She will state that 16 new refuge units will be operational by the end of 2024, doubling the original commitment of eight. Work is also ongoing to establish 17 additional safe homes.

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She will also state that the Government has established Cuan, the Domestic Sexual and Gender Based Violence Agency, and Enacted the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Act 2024 to “improve protections for victims of sexual offences and of human trafficking”

Cuan has rolled out campaigns developed by the Department of Justice on consent and intimate abuse, with evaluations of the performance of those campaigns indicating “significant shifts in public attitude”, Cabinet will hear.

Budget 2024 provided an extra €12 million for Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, an increase of 25%, bringing total funding to €70m.

Elsewhere, Education Minister Norma Foley will bring a cost-of-living memo to the cabinet to secure an agreement for reduced school transport scheme fees and a waiver on state exam fees next year.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin, meanwhile, will seek approval of a full Ambassador of Palestine to Ireland following the Government's decision in May to recognise the State of Palestine.

On October 17, the Government of the State of Palestine formally notified the Department of Foreign Affairs of its intention to change Palestine’s representation in Ireland to a resident Embassy.

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