Mary Moran (Labour)
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Like many similar service providers, Women's Aid Dundalk has taken a substantial cut to its funding over the past two to three years. It has essentially been asked to do more with less, as has everyone else.

Women's Aid Dundalk provides a refuge for men, women and children who are fleeing domestic violence. The funding issue I wish to highlight relates to the moneys allocated by Louth County Council to the refuge for its operational and running costs. This money keeps the doors open and the lights on and it does not relate to salary or care needs. Unfortunately, Women's Aid Dundalk is in a precarious financial position and has been unable to agree an adequate service level agreement with the council. There have been numerous communications between the two but, unfortunately, on 9 July, the organisation was informed that, at best, it would face a 53% budget reduction. This figure is not even guaranteed, as it relies on three other service providers not using all of their allocation, which is incredibly unlikely. The 53% figure is the best case scenario.

Women's Aid Dundalk will not be able to continue to execute this incredibly vital service without the proper appropriations. The board members have identified that they would be able to manage a 33% reduction in operating costs but could not accommodate further cuts without closing their doors. They were informed there would be no way to accommodate this 33% reduction. We have continually asked everyone in every sector to "do more with less" but this is absurd. We cannot ask Women's Aid Dundalk to work with this extreme cut to its budget within a short year. The Council of Europe has reported that the Louth, Cavan and Monaghan region operates at 38% below the recommended level of refuge provision. We are behind Bosnia-Herzegovina in this respect.

The Dundalk branch of Women's Aid has been forced to turn away 160 people in need of crisis accommodation since the start of this year. I am worried that the closure of the refuge would result in further pressing demands on the other local service providers and more people remaining in domestic abuse situations because they have nowhere to go. In times of unemployment and economic uncertainty, the levels of physical, mental, sexual and emotional abuse increase, which is why it is ironic that the funding for services such as the Women's Aid refuge in Dundalk that provide an outlet for these victims is being reduced.

On 1 August, the current service level agreement with Louth County Council will discontinue and Women's Aid Dundalk will cease to be able to provide refuge services. We have 11 days to resolve this issue. Will we be proactive or will we allow this service to become another victim of the recession? I am also concerned for those currently using the service and what will happen to them on 1 August. Will the other overstretched services absorb the numbers currently availing of the refuge in Dundalk?

I ask that this service not be forced to close down for even a single day and that the level of funding be revised to reflect the 33% budget cut that has been indicated as manageable. This service is not asking to have its funding levels restored to that of previous years. The board members are asking that they be given sufficient funding to continue to operate their service to the best of their ability. The reduction of 33%, while not ideal, would result in the refuge keeping its doors open. The three other service providers will be unable to absorb the numbers if the refuge were to close.

Women's Aid Dundalk was thriving in every other area of its work before the issues with section 10. It was looking to expand to a larger building and increase its accommodation levels. This has had to be shelved. The proposed cut to operational funding is the only reason that this refuge provider will close. Until we move towards a revised policy and an amendment to legislation, we will continue to need the current level and then some of refuge service. Unfortunately, there will always be a section of society that needs refuge services. On our part, in the future we need to determine a way in which to separately categorise domestic violence homelessness from homelessness arising from other issues. As I was told by a representative from Women's Aid Dundalk earlier: "Moving from refuge should be a process not an event." I have comprehensively outlined the need for Women's Aid Dundalk refuge to have a presence in my community because, without it, where do the men, women and children go?

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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I thank the Senator for the comprehensive treatment she has given to this important matter. Domestic, sexual and gender-based violence are serious health, social and human rights issues that affect people across society from all walks of life and all cultural, social and ethnic backgrounds and across all age groups. The majority of victims are women but a significant number of men are affected and abuse also occurs in same sex relationships. With a view to tackling these serious issues, the Department of Justice and Equality established Cosc, as an executive office of that Department. Cosc's key task is to ensure the delivery of a well co-ordinated whole of government response to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence against women, men and older people in the community. In March 2010 the Government launched a national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, a four-year strategy to provide a framework for sustainable intervention to prevent and effectively respond to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. Responsibility for the implementation of this strategy lies with Cosc.

The HSE published its own complementary policy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, which is in line with the national strategy. The HSE policy focuses on eight key high level goals and actions, including standardisation of service provision across the country, training for all HSE staff and voluntary-community sector providers and a strong focus on hearing the voice of service users in all aspects of service planning, design, development, delivery and evaluation. The HSE allocated more than €18.2 million in 2013 to domestic violence services, which is a 2.5% reduction compared to 2012 due to the overall HSE budget deficit. As with all domestic violence services, this 2.5% cut was also applied to Women's Aid Dundalk, the allocation to which is €425,000 in 2013. This allocation goes towards funding of support staff working in refuges for the victims of domestic violence as well as those involved in associated support services.

Non-pay current funding is allocated through the local authorities. The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government recoups current funding to local housing authorities under section 10 of the Housing Act 1988 for accommodation and related services for homeless persons, which can include victims of domestic violence. A significant portion of the funding provided annually is in respect of domestic violence refuges. Some €2.5 million was provided in 2012 under section 10 towards the costs of domestic violence-related facilities and initiatives nationwide. In addition to refuges, victims of domestic violence may also use other mainstream homeless accommodation solutions that are funded by the Department, for example, hostels, bed and breakfast and transitional accommodation.

The national implementation plan for the homeless strategy provided for the development of a more devolved allocation-based system for the provision of accommodation-related current funding to housing authorities with emphasis on increased decision making at local level. Under these arrangements, responsibility for decision-making on the funding of particular services within available allocations rests with the statutory homeless management group. In this instance, it is the north-east regional homeless management group led by Louth County Council. The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government has no function, nor is it involved in, decisions on operational matters.

Mary Moran (Labour)
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I appreciate the Minister of State's reply but a more direct question must be put regarding the Women's Aid refuge in Dundalk, which services County Louth and surrounding counties. I would be grateful if he could relay this back to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and if he could find out more information about the cut to the funding and whether it has been replicated throughout the country, which I do not believe it has. This will not alleviate the problem of providing refuge for victims of violence and it is important that we do not lose this valuable service.

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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I will relay the Senator's additional comments and I thank her again for raising this important issue. There was a good debate in the House on the broader question some time ago. The Senator raised a specific issue relating to Dundalk. I have given a response as best I can but if she wishes to obtain additional details, I will assist her in that regard.