A new agency which aims to curb domestic violence has been launched in Dublin.
The National Domestic Violence Intervention Agency says it will help to ensure the safety of victims by working with them and their abusers.
At its launch in Dublin Castle today, agency leaders said for the time being it would deal with both victims and perpetrators of domestic violence.
The work of the Gardaí, the courts system and support groups will be coordinated with two main aims: to keep the victims safe and to ensure abusers take part in programmes which will help them stop the violence and sanction them if they do not.
Support groups have welcomed the move. Women's Aid said it could help reduce the number of murders linked to domestic violence.
The new approach is based on a model from the US which significantly reduced the rates of repetition in domestic violence.
It is funded by the Department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform, and will run on a pilot basis for the first year in Dún Laoghaire and Bray.
