Galway deserves Safe Home units without delay – Kyne

Immediate action is needed to address the lack of Safe Home units in Galway, a Fine Gael Senator said.

Senator Seán Kyne, Fine Gael’s candidate for the upcoming Galway West bye-election said: “It is completely unacceptable that a county the size of Galway has zero Safe Home units. We have 10 refuge units, but no transitional accommodation for families who need a safe place to rebuild their lives.”

Nationally the Government has increased Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) funding to almost €80 million through Budget 2026, supporting Cuan and frontline organisations in delivering the Zero Tolerance Strategy.

Senator Kyne said while the investment has led to new refuge and Safe Home units across the country, Galway remains without a single unit, leaving survivors with no supported accommodation options once they leave emergency refuge.

“This gap between services increases the pressure on survivors and leaves them facing impossible choices,” Senator Kyne said.

Safe Home units provide medium-term, supported accommodation for individuals and families leaving crisis situations. They are a core pillar of the State’s Zero Tolerance Strategy to DSGBV and are designed to stop survivors from being forced back into unsafe environments.

“Galway can’t be left behind while other counties, with smaller populations are seeing real progress. The Government has shown what can be achieved in places like Louth and Dublin. Now that same urgency needs to be applied to Galway.”

Senator Kyne is calling on the Departments of Justice and Housing, Galway local authorities and Cuan to work together to identify suitable units and give a clear timeframe for their delivery.

“Survivors in Galway deserve the same access to safety and stability as those in every other part of the country. We have the funding, national strategy and evidence on what works. Galway must be prioritised without delay.”