Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On the latter point, I agree about the need for additional places and that we need to do it as quickly as we possibly can. We have had three Departments, namely, those responsible for housing, children and justice, in this system and that is not optimal. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has largely provided for the refuge places to be developed through the new capital assistance scheme, CAS, and so on. Too much has depended on groups coming to the Government or authorities saying they want to set something up. An audit has taken place. Basically, from the centre out we should now be designing what a modern refuge centre should be all about, including proper, high-quality facilities. We need to design that and do it and that is what we intend to do with regard to refuges. That would speed this up in some areas. The system works in some areas because of local activism but it cannot just depend on local activism. Some counties have very little provision at the moment. Deputy Murnane O'Connor has been on to me about Carlow, as have others.

That is an example and an illustration. We need to do that better.

I agree that there is a need to change legislation in respect of relationships and sexuality, but I have to stress it has to be an overarching package that involves the curriculum-----

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