Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response. It seems that the broad orientation of policy he outlined is probably correct. The tragedy, however, is that if we let this facility close it would be very difficult to re-establish it.

The Minister of State made the point in his response that Tusla has indicated that it would hope to support such services in the future but in 2015 this particular refuge is in crisis. The funding required to keep it open for the remaining half of the year is not a very large amount. It was suppose to close down in March, as the commitment given was that it would be funded for three years. We are up against it now as we face into the remaining half of the year.

I did not appreciate fully that there is a role, as envisaged here, for the Department of Justice and Equality. Respond! has also a connection evidently with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. I know things are tight. I hear their lordships on radio complaining that the cut in the Tusla funding to Accord is retaliation by the Government because of the prominent role of some Catholic prelates in the equality referendum. They seem prepared to ignore the assurance of the Minister that it was not so. The refuge in Tallaght certainly is not involved in the referendum. That is not the reason funding is being cut. It is clear to everybody, and ought to be clear to their lordships, that Tusla has a funding problem, having taken over new responsibilities this year.

In respect of this particular initiative by Respond! which is acknowledged by all the agencies involved, by the HSE, the emergency refuges around south Dublin and the county council, as being a splendid service where women fleeing domestic violence, who do not have any other alternative except to go back to the abusive partner, have a facility to move on while housing is being procured for them. It is a very valuable initiative. It represents value for money. The alternative would cost the State more.

I ask the Minister of State to engage with the Minister for Justice and Equality and the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to see if a half year's funding for the refuge can be put together while the new model of service he spoke about can be settled on by the respective Departments.

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