Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is a priority. Deputy Connolly raised this issue yesterday, as she said, in respect of funding for refuge spaces. That falls within the remit of Tusla and it has undertaken a review of the need for refuge spaces and other accommodation. The Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, is committed to ensuring that the needs of service users are met and that the recommendations of the review inform strategic actions under the third national strategy for domestic sexual and gender-based violence. Tusla also continues its ongoing engagement with all its funded service providers regarding service needs and supports, as the Deputy is aware. There are some 60 services throughout the country and we are acutely aware that the housing crisis is placing additional pressures on refuges and is making identifying longer-term services more difficult. Tusla has also advised that the length of stay for women and families in refuges has increased due to the lack of appropriate move-on accommodation. I assure the Deputy, however, that we are doing much work at Government level concerning that audit and also regarding supporting victims' journeys. A great deal of work is happening in that area and its progression is a priority for me.

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