Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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7. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in providing a refuge centre in counties Cavan and Monaghan for victims of domestic abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25049/23]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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As the Minister of State is aware, the Government's third national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, DSGBV, commits to doubling the number of refuge spaces. That ambitious strategy is very welcome. My counties of Cavan and Monaghan are two of the counties that do not have a domestic violence refuge centre, so I am very anxious that such provision be advanced as quickly as possible. The last update I had some time ago was that a number of sites in both counties were being considered. What stage is the proposed project for Cavan-Monaghan at? Are there preferred sites or has a site been chosen yet?

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue around the need to provide refuge centres in Cavan and Monaghan for victims of domestic abuse. As the Deputy rightly pointed out, it is one of the areas that does not have those supports in place at the moment. The Deputy has raised this matter consistently with both myself and the Department of Justice and I am glad to have an opportunity to give him an update on what he has been campaigning for for a very long time.

Last June, the Government launched Zero Tolerance, our third national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. One of the overarching goals is to ensure that everyone who needs a refuge space will get one. Over the lifetime of the strategy we intend to double the number of refuge spaces, bringing it to 280. Tusla reviewed the accommodation services for victims of DSGBV and identified priority locations where between 50 and 60 new refuge places are needed. Further analysis identified 12 locations nationwide where the delivery of 98 family refuge spaces would have the most impact if prioritised.

The Tusla review identified a requirement for eight family places in Cavan-Monaghan for prioritisation. A group of stakeholders has met a number of times in 2023 with a view to beginning plans to establish the refuge in Cavan-Monaghan. Key statutory bodies, including Tusla, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Department of Justice, Cavan and Monaghan county councils and An Garda Síochána have been engaged in these meetings, along with the local domestic violence organisation Tearmann and Safe Ireland. The current focus is, as the Deputy rightly pointed out, on identifying a site and initiating a more formalised project. The nature of refuge developments, as capital projects, means that timelines for capital projects apply. At this early stage, many factors can influence the speed at which a project is delivered, such as the identification of a suitable site or building, planning processes, tendering processes and the appointment of contractors. However, as an identified priority area, every effort is being made to ensure supports are put in place to achieve delivery of the refuge and support services in Cavan-Monaghan as quickly as possible. The Deputy will be aware of the intention to establish a new domestic violence agency at the start of 2023 to complement the delivery of services.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for his detailed reply. I am glad he mentioned that priority is being attached to the provision of a refuge centre in Cavan-Monaghan. I also welcome the fact he referred to the very important work of Safe Ireland and the Tearmann domestic abuse service in Cavan-Monaghan. They do excellent work dealing with people in a very vulnerable position. Unfortunately, we all know of the increased violence over the last number of years, particularly against women. In our constituency work we all come across families who are going through terrible torment and a very difficult time. The housing sections in the local authorities in Cavan and Monaghan work as closely and as positively as they can with people who find themselves in that predicament. At the moment the only hostel accommodation available for victims from Cavan-Monaghan is in Dundalk or Meath and for north-west Cavan it is in Sligo. If a person or family has to leave their home it is a very difficult situation. It is even more difficult when there are children attending school because they are dislocated from their locality and their friends.

It is very important that we prioritise the provision as soon as possible.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I assure the Deputy that delivering refuge spaces in Cavan-Monaghan is a priority for the Department. We are in the process of identifying that location, working with the various different bodies to see where that location can be provided. We have to provide these spaces for very vulnerable people and we have a comprehensive programme around DSGBV in our third national strategy.

Tearmann Domestic Violence Services Monaghan is a community-based support service delivering a range of supports to women affected by domestic abuse across the counties of Cavan and Monaghan, including support groups, outreach support and court accompaniment services. Tearmann is engaged with other stakeholders around early stage considerations for planning of a refuge for the Cavan-Monaghan area and is in the process of a merger to come under Safe Ireland that is expected to come into effect by the end of June to assist in supporting the process. From the information provided to Tusla, it is expected that there will be a new focus on refuge development for Cavan-Monaghan once the organisational process is completed. This merger will provide a renewed impetus to provide the necessary services.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I very much welcome the fact that the Minister of State spoke about the importance of the work of Safe Ireland and Tearmann at a local level in Cavan-Monaghan. I welcome the partnership that will be established with those groups. I commend officials in all the statutory agencies referred to by the Minister of State in his initial reply who are involved in advance of this project. I know they are as committed as we are but, again, even with the best will in the world, it takes too long to get things delivered in this country. The Minister of State is giving the message, which I welcome. I hope he will keep sending that message to the people charged with implementing Government decisions. The utmost urgency must be attached to the provision of this much-needed accommodation for people who find themselves in an awfully difficult position I again refer to the fact that children have to re-locate. It is bad enough having to re-locate from your home to somewhere else nearby but having to travel a long distance away from your friends, school etc. is awfully disruptive for children. Naturally as a State, we must try to support those people in those vulnerable positions as strongly as we can.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I again thank the Deputy for raising a very important matter about the need for refuge spaces and DSGBV service in the Cavan-Monaghan area. I assure the Deputy that the key statutory bodies - Tusla, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Department of Justice, the county councils in Cavan and Monaghan, An Garda Síochána, Tearmann and Safe Ireland - are working very closely together to identify that location so that these services can be provided as quickly as possible. They are capital projects, which at times come with challenges, but we are determined to see that delivered. The merger of Tearmann and Safe Ireland will give renewed impetus on and very focused delivery of these services that are badly needed.