Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In response to the last question, we are still finalising. I cannot say that we have the final budget but, yes, I am confident that there is a very clear commitment by all of the Government that the strategy will be funded. So if it is going to work, be implemented, have the desired effect and there is zero tolerance across all of government and all sectors, the strategy needs to be fully budgeted. I am confident that it will be but we are still finalising and engaging with Departments. We have not reached a point where I can say that we have the overall figure but we are close.

The MOU will apply to accommodation and not just the delivery of service, all of which will move over to my Department and then the agency will have specific responsibility. That is an important element because it will work closely with the sector. This is not about replacing the invaluable organisations that work on the ground; this is about supporting them, learning from them and then using all of that information to be targeted and focused. As the Deputy has outlined, this should not be about where there is a group on the ground and capability to be able to apply. Organisations will have the capability and no accommodation but at the same time it is a very difficult process and we have to look for it.

What we are trying to make sure, through the work that we are doing in the interdepartmental group, that will then be taken over and implemented through the agency, is that it is looking at need, population and assessing goals and objectives. The approach is everyone who needs a refuge space will get one and to date, unfortunately, that has not been the case. We have fantastic accommodation and fantastic people work in this sector but we need to fill the gaps. We also need it to be a little more-----