Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 371: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of refuge centres in each local authority area; the number proposed; the stage of those that are proposed; the funding provided by his Department for such facilities over each of the past five years to each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24165/07]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork 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. In relation to accommodation, capital funding is available through my Department's Capital Assistance Scheme to voluntary housing bodies providing accommodation to meet special needs, including accommodation for victims of domestic violence. A separate figure is not available for expenditure on accommodation for victims of domestic violence or for the number of such centres in each local authority area.

My 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. Proposals for additional accommodation for victims of domestic violence, including refuges and transitional accommodation, are, in the first instance, matters for the relevant local authority.