Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 359: 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 available; his plans to increase the number of refuge spaces; if so, the number by which the spaces will be increased; and when these will be available. [43484/08]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 360: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his Department's current spending on emergency and transitional accommodation for victims of domestic violence by local authority area in 2007 and 2008. [43485/08]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 361: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his Department's capital spending on emergency and transitional accommodation for victims of domestic violence by local authority area in 2007 and 2008. [43486/08]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 359 to 361, inclusive, together.

Cosc, the National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (an executive office of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform) was established by Government in June 2007, with the key responsibility to ensure the delivery of a well coordinated "whole of Government" response to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. The major priority for Cosc is to produce a National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence which has the support of Government and non-governmental organisations in the sector. This work should inform actions needed to improve service provision, including emergency accommodation and refuge provision places.

Capital funding is available through my Department's Capital Assistance Scheme to approved voluntary housing bodies to provide accommodation to meet the special housing needs of groups including the elderly, the homeless, persons with disabilities and victims of domestic violence. My Department's involvement with the scheme relates primarily to the provision of funds for individual projects. The administration of the scheme, including the appraisal of new applications, the management of the planning and procurement stages of projects and the certification that particular projects comply with the terms of the scheme, are the responsibility of the appropriate local authority.

Given that the accommodation provided by voluntary housing bodies for victims of domestic violence may often be in multi-purpose accommodation or may not be categorised specifically as refuges, a separate figure is not available for capital expenditure on accommodation for victims of domestic violence.

While my Department does not hold details in relation to all refuges for victims of domestic violence, information is available in relation to the funding provided towards the operational costs of certain refuges and transitional accommodation which are used for such purposes. The expenditure recouped to local authorities by my Department under section 10 of the Housing Act 1988 for this purpose in 2007 and to date in 2008 is set out in the Table which follows.

Housing authorities have statutory responsibility for homeless accommodation and any proposals for additional accommodation for homeless persons are a matter for consideration in the first instance by the relevant housing authority.