The Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD, has today (Friday) published the first Corporate Plan for Cuan, the Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (DSGBV) Agency.
The establishment of Cuan earlier this year was a key action under Minister McEntee’s Zero Tolerance strategy for combating domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.
Cuan is tasked with implementing the Zero Tolerance Strategy. This first corporate plan, covering the period 2025 to 2027, sets out how Cuan will fulfil its mandate and work towards achieving a society with zero tolerance for any form of DSGBV or the attitudes which underpin it, and ensuring victims have access to the full range of supports and services they need.
As with the development of the Zero Tolerance Strategy, and the subsequent work to identify the core functions of Cuan, which were co-designed with the DSGBV sector, the feedback from frontline service providers, civil society and Cuan’s implementation partners has been key to developing the corporate plan. Cuan also worked closely with their Board in developing this first corporate plan, which the Board has endorsed.
Speaking today, Minister McEntee said:
“The establishment of Cuan represents a significant and transformative shift in our focus to create a more structured, cohesive, and impactful response to DSGBV now and into the future.
“Cuan is a major initiative under the Zero Tolerance Strategy and is key to realising its ambition. Promoting cross-sector collaboration, Cuan can further transform how we understand and prevent all forms of DSGBV. I am confident that it will not only provide improved support for victims but will also promote and sustain a national movement towards lasting cultural change.
“The publication today of Cuan’s inaugural Corporate Plan, which sets out a clear vision for action in the coming three years, is a significant step. I am particularly pleased to see that this plan is grounded in values that reflect our wider mission to combat DSGBV: Courage, Creativity, Empathy, Inclusion and Integrity.”
Prof. Caroline Fennell, Chair of Cuan’s Board, said:
“As a dedicated Agency committed to tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, Cuan marks a crucial milestone in Ireland’s continued commitment to eradicating domestic sexual and gender-based violence. Cuan’s role is to drive the ambition towards zero tolerance of all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, and in so doing, bridge the gap between policy and practice, ambition and reality, thereby ensuring a comprehensive effective response that integrates the lived experiences of victim-survivors into all aspects of its work. Our Corporate Plan sets out our strategic direction and guides this critical work.”
Dr Stephanie O’Keeffe, CEO of Cuan, said:
“I am proud today to outline Cuan’s commitment to shaping a safer and more just Ireland. This Corporate Plan is not only ambitious—it is an essential blueprint for the transformation needed to eliminate domestic, sexual and gender-based violence from our society. Guided by this plan, our priority is to establish the structures and systems that will allow Cuan to fulfil its purpose and remit. From strategy oversight and coordination; research and data development; victim-survivor engagement; awareness campaigns and the delivery of safe, accessible services, including refuge accommodation, our focus is on driving real, lasting societal change.
“I want to thank Minister Helen McEntee for her unwavering leadership in this space, and Cuan’s Board, staff and stakeholders for their ongoing guidance and support in the task ahead.”
