Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

There is absolutely no doubt that we do not have enough refuge spaces in this country. No one disputes that fact. That is why the accommodation review was undertaken to outline where the gaps are and where the lack of coverage and availability of spaces is most acute. It was undertaken to identify the areas where there are communities, families, primarily women, fleeing abusive situations, who have to travel very long distances to find refuge. I have no doubt that when the review is published, it will illustrate what the Deputy her colleagues know, namely, that there is a very substantive gap in coverage in counties Cavan and Monaghan. That is something that needs to be addressed.

As the Deputy is aware, the Taoiseach, the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, and I briefed Opposition leaders, including the Deputy's party leader, last week on this issue. We outlined that there is a substantive change under way. Responsibility for refuge provision is moving from my Department and Tusla to the Department of Justice. All responses to DSGBV will be run through the Department of Justice, including the implementation of the accommodation review.

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