Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 336: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of refuges for victims of domestic violence here; the number of spaces this amounts to; if there is an intention to increase the number of refuge spaces available; if so, the number of spaces; and when these will be available. [30266/07]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Cosc is the new National Office within the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform with key responsibility for ensuring the delivery of a well coordinated "whole of Government" response to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. Its remit includes overall responsibility for the coordination of policy relating to women and men who are victims of domestic violence.

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. My Department also 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.

Insofar as my Department is aware, funding under Section 10 of the Housing Act, 1988 is supporting of the order of 718 beds for emergency and transitional accommodation for homeless victims of domestic violence. The following Table sets out details of the recoupment by my Department to local authorities for the last five years in respect of their current expenditure on accommodation related costs for refuges and transitional accommodation for homeless victims of domestic violence. In addition, it should be noted that mainstream emergency homeless accommodation would also be available to victims of violence if required.

The Independent Review of Implementation of Homeless Strategies was published in February 2006. Recommendation 16 of the Review states that "Victims of domestic violence should be recognised as an at risk target group, and in this regard the National Steering Committee on Violence against Women should consider convening an expert working group to examine refuge provision and occupancy around the country." The Government has accepted the broad thrust of the Review's recommendations and the details fall to be considered within the framework of work already underway in my Department on the finalisation of a revised and updated Strategy on Homelessness. In that context, my Department will continue to engage with Cosc to further address the accommodation-related issues arising in relation to domestic violence.