Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I understand that the long-awaited Tusla review on refuge provision is due to come before Cabinet next week. This is welcome. Action on the lack of refuge spaces and capacity across the State has been delayed on the basis that this work had not been completed. County Roscommon is one of nine counties across the State to have no refuge spaces for women or children. Together, Roscommon, Galway and Mayo have a population of more than 228,000 women. According to Safe Ireland, based on the Istanbul Convention, those three counties should have 46 refuge spaces. There are 14. We know there is a shortage of childcare workers, psychologists and other wraparound care providers and that many existing services are heavily reliant on fundraising. Where State funding is available, it is not provided on a multi-annual basis. There is no dedicated funding strategy to address how we are to reach the levels outlined in the Istanbul Convention. With regard to what is to come before Cabinet next week, will the Taoiseach confirm that the existing gaps in respect of refuge spaces will be addressed in what the Government will propose on the back of that review?

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