Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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9. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to increase funding to women's refuges to allow them to increase their capacity and provide much-needed services to victims of domestic violence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22961/16]

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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We would all agree that women and children experiencing domestic violence are incredibly vulnerable and that the facilities in the State for helping them are not nearly good enough. The Minister said lately that funding for domestic violence services is being protected to the same level as that in 2015. I assure her that will not be nearly good enough for a deprived county like Wexford where the problem is particularly acute. Will the Government see fit to examine more closely the needs in such areas with a view to increasing funding?

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I thank Deputy Wallace. At all times my priority and that of Tusla is to ensure that the needs of women and children fleeing domestic violence are being met in the best way possible. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, allocates funding for a network of 60 organisations that provide services to victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in Ireland. This includes 20 services that provide emergency refuge accommodation to women and children and 24 community-based domestic violence services.

In 2016, funding for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence services is €20.6 million, including €12 million for emergency refuge and support services, €4.6 million for other community-based domestic violence support services and €4 million to support rape crisis centres. Tusla is engaging with service provider organisations and other stakeholders to identify and prioritise future needs, including the provision of additional emergency accommodation spaces. Since the beginning of 2016, eight additional units of emergency accommodation have become operational and are supported by Tusla.

Domestic violence support services are provided through integrated community-based responses, with emergency refuge accommodation as one component of service delivery. Tusla’s primary focus is on achieving the optimum use of emergency shelter accommodation and focusing on prevention and effective community-based services to avoid in so far as possible the need for use of refuges by vulnerable women and families.

We all recognise that there are challenges to be addressed in ensuring that there is appropriate and safe crisis accommodation available to all women and children who require immediate shelter because of violent family relationships. I am committed to continuing our support for these vital services.

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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There is one women's refuge centre in Wexford with four family bedrooms serving the entire county. In 2014, it turned away 338 women and 259 children. The figures for 2015 are not yet collated but we are told they are as bad if not worse than those for 2014.

Recently, the women's refuge centre in Wexford submitted, for the second time, a comprehensive funding application through the capital assistance scheme to buy a property that would be converted into 12 self-contained rooms which would allow it operate its emergency accommodation in line with international best practice. The second application was submitted a year ago along with plans, full costing and all the relevant documentation, but it has disappeared. The centre has been on to its local government representatives, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and other Departments but it seems it is being ignored by central government. It is finding it impossible to get feedback even about the status of its application.

I do not know if the Minister knows anything about this but I appeal to her to address that. We can only imagine where the 338 women who were turned away by the centre went that night. The State must take a serious look at this area.

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I accept what Deputy Wallace outlined. I will take a look at that. It is important to investigate it. However, there is great need throughout the country in terms of other settings. There has been a slight increase in funding but I hear what the Deputy is saying, and it would be important to take a look at it again.

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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The Minister is probably aware that the level of unemployment in Wexford is at 20%. We have the highest suicide rate in the country and the third highest rate of teenage pregnancy. We probably have a few more problems than most counties, and I do not deny that there are problems throughout the country. The housing crisis has a direct impact in this area also. It is mainly women and children who end up homeless from a combination of domestic violence and the housing crisis. Recently, we had the launch of the plan to deal with the challenge that is our housing crisis. Regardless of what one thinks of its merits, it is a start. It will not have a serious impact for at least two years but organisations like the Wexford Women's Refuge centre need help now. Too many people will fall through the cracks in the next two years if the problem is not addressed in an active fashion.

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The Deputy has put forward his case regarding Wexford and I have agreed to take a look at it. The action plan was very important to me and I was keen to ensure that within the context of the action plan we did something about the fact that some of the people who are moving into homelessness are fleeing their homes because of domestic violence. I have identified an action to provide additional emergency refuge accommodation places for victims of domestic violence and to provide a policy and guidance to housing authorities on the role they can play to assist victims of domestic violence in securing new independent tenancies. Additional emergency accommodation places will be provided in the context of that plan.