The government, through the capital assistance fund and Cuan, have funded the build and will support the new refuge, which consists of 12 family units.

Wexford is the first of 13 priority locations to complete construction on a new domestic violence refuge as part of the government’s work under Zero Tolerance, the third national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, to double the number of refuge units.

The facility was developed by Wexford Women’s Refuge in co-operation with Wexford County Council. It is located close to Wexford Rape Crisis Centre, which will ensure the provision of wraparound services for the women and children who use the refuge.

Justice minister Helen McEntee said: “A core aim of the Zero Tolerance plan to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is ensuring that everyone who needs a refuge space will get one.

“With the launch of this new state-of-the-art facility in Wexford, refuge capacity for vulnerable women and children in this area has increased three-fold.

“It’s a hugely important step on the road to doubling the number of refuge spaces to 280 nationally over the lifetime of our Zero Tolerance plan.

“And I know Cuan, the new domestic, sexual and gender-based violence agency, is working to deliver the highest standard of accommodation and to ensure organisations are assisted at all stages on these developments.

“Today is an important day for Wexford and I am very grateful to all involved, especially Women’s Wexford Refuge, for their hard work in designing and planning this facility.”