Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 320: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of women's refuges which currently exist here; the respective locations of these refuges; his proposals to develop further refuges of this sort; if so, where it is proposed they be established; if funding will be contributed towards such facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32314/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, through its role as chair of the National Steering Committee on Violence against Women, has overall responsibility for issues relating to violence against women.

Details of the number and location of women's refuges in existence or planned is not available in my Department. As regards the provision of accommodation, capital funding is available through the Department's capital assistance scheme to approved voluntary housing bodies providing accommodation to meet special housing needs such as those of elderly or homeless persons or persons with disabilities and may include accommodation for victims of domestic violence. A separate figure is not available for expenditure on accommodation for victims of domestic violence.

Under section 10 of the Housing Act 1988, the Department can recoup to local authorities 90% of their current expenditure on accommodation related costs arising in respect of homeless persons including, where appropriate, victims of domestic violence. The remaining 10% is provided from the revenue resources of the local authorities. Decisions on funding of such accommodation are matters for the local authority in whose area the accommodation is situated. Associated care costs are the responsibility of the Department of Health and Children.

In 2004 section 10 funding was recouped to local authorities in respect of projects identified as women's refuges in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Athlone, Clonmel, Drogheda, Dundalk, Ennis, Tralee, Sligo, Wexford, Letterkenny, Navan, Kilkenny and Castlebar.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 321: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the provisions he has made with regard to supporting the establishment of a women's refuge in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32315/05]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 322: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if funding will be provided for a women's refuge at a proposed site (details supplied) in County Kildare in view of the significant increase in violence against women in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32320/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 321 and 322 together.

Capital funding is available through my Department's capital assistance scheme to approved voluntary housing bodies to provide accommodation to meet special housing needs, such as elderly, homeless or persons with disabilities and may include accommodation for victims of domestic violence. The Department's involvement with the scheme relates primarily to the provision of funds for individual projects. The administration of the scheme, and the certification that particular projects comply with the terms of the scheme, are the responsibility of the appropriate local authority, in this case Kildare County Council. The Department recoups to the local authorities 90% of their current expenditure on accommodation related costs arising in respect of homeless persons including, where appropriate, victims of domestic violence. The remaining 10% is provided from the revenue resources of the local authorities.

Decisions on both capital and current funding for accommodation for victims of domestic violence are matters for the local authority in whose area the accommodation is situated. Associated care costs are the responsibility of the Department of Health and Children.

In the case of the voluntary body referred to in the question, my Department has granted approved status to the body which, it is understood, proposes to undertake a project to provide accommodation for victims of domestic violence. Kildare County Council is at present considering aspects relating to the eligibility of this particular project for assistance under the scheme, and formal application for funding of the project has not yet been received by my Department from the council.