Number of sexual offences at highest level in five years

The number of sexual offences investigated in Cavan and Monaghan are at their highest in five years.

There have been 36 arrests in relation to complaints for sexual offences across the two counties, according to new figures released by the Department for Justice. The figures are up to date as of October 15.

Not since 2018 - when there were 37 such arrests - has there been a peak in serious cases in the Cavan-Monaghan Garda Division.

The number of reported incidents had steadily fallen since then, with 32 arrests in 2019; 25 in 2020; 24 in 2021; before rising again to 29 in 2022.

A 10-year search of An Garda Síochána's PULSE Custody Logs, associated with incidents logged under the category of 'Sexual Offences', places 2023 behind only 2018 and 2012 when there were 43 such reports.

In total there have been 360 incidents investigated by local gardaí from the beginning 2012 up to mid October this year.

A comparison to neighbouring divisions saw gardaí investigate 31 reported 'sexual offences' in Meath to date in 2023, 15 in Westmeath, 27 in Mayo/Roscommon/Longford, and less than 10 in Sligo/Leitrim.

Sligo/Leitrim had 28 cases reported in 2022.

Last year the government published it's 'Zero Tolerance - Third National Strategy to combat Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence'. The €363 million strategy contains 144 detailed actions to be implemented through new oversight structures, and follows on from a Tusla report that recommended providing eight dedicated DV refuge spaces specifically for Cavan and Monaghan.

Stakeholders including representatives from Tusla, the Departments of Housing and Justice, Cavan and Monaghan county councils as well as gardaí have been engaged in the meetings, along with local DV organisation, Tearmann, and Safe Ireland with a view to identifying a suitable location.

As it stands spaces are found on a case-by-case basis, often in hotels or B&Bs.

In 2022, an additional 12 Safe Homes were put in place, with a further increase from 32 to 50 expected by the end of 2023.

By the end of 2024, it is expected 24 refuge units will be delivered in Wexford, Dundalk and Navan.

Twelve other locations have been identified nationwide for the delivery of 98 family refuge spaces over the lifetime of the Zero Tolerance strategy. Along with Cavan-Monaghan it includes new or additional spaces to be provided in Sligo, Westmeath, Longford, Cork city, North Cork, West Cork, Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown, Portlaoise, Balbriggan, Carlow, and Offaly.