Ms Fiona Ryan:

It is a mixture. For want of a better term, it is an intensive visiting support. Our visiting support service also provides a dedicated crisis intervention service for families who are in homeless services. We developed this model of service because we believe in starting with the woman and child. We have a very simple response to this. Their needs shape our response, and their safety and protection needs have primarily shaped how we develop services. There is no denying that high-risk high-needs clients need refuge.

The Deputy described the situation perfectly and made an astute observation. I use the term "choosing" in the broadest sense, but women are telling us they would rather stay at home and manage the abuse than face risking their children going into homeless services. When I refer to abuse, I am not just talking about verbal abuse. I may mean regular beatings or sexual abuse. There is a very high prevalence of sexual abuse in the context of domestic violence. Our services peak after Christmas because women hold things together so that kids' Christmases are not disrupted. They peak after the leaving certificate exams because women make sure that their children who are doing exams are not disrupted.

The committee needs to be aware of the fact that the current homeless crisis is stopping women and children entering refuge. Many of those seeking refuge cannot access services. We make sure that no woman and child leaves our refuge with a being offered a service. When they are in refuge our first work with them involves finding them somewhere to move on to. No one wants to use the analogy relating to bed blocking, but when people are in refuge they are taking up places that others cannot access. To where do we move women and children?

It is not just about finding housing. That is a large part of it eventually down the line, but there is that interim step around that critical six-month period where there is a need for what we call step-down accommodation. It may be a transitional point beyond refuge where there is still a high risk. The committee asked for solid recommendations to be made to it. First, there needs to be a real conversation between the new Ministry, formerly the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Tusla and the Department of Justice and Equality. We need real inter-agency working on the ground, similar to what exists in adjoining jurisdictions, where accommodation needs are reflected in any care plan put forward for high-risk women and children. The agencies need to talk to each other but there also needs to be fluidity in the accommodation stock that exists. If accommodation is available it must be made available for step-down accommodation. Of course, people will want to move on to housing and move on with their lives but we must establish risk and safety as the priority criteria for post-refuge or any form of emergency accommodation.