Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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17. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the action he will take to ensure the vital services of a refuge (details supplied) in Dublin 24 are not closed before Christmas 2015; what he will do to prevent this service from closing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35331/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Cuan Álainn Centre was established independently of the State. It opened in 2012 and is funded by Respond. The Cuan Álainn centre provides accommodation for a range of clients, some of whom may have been in emergency accommodation provided by domestic violence refuges.

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, allocates available funding for domestic violence to emergency refuge accommodation services and community-based domestic violence supports.

The Cuan Álainn facility does not operate as a front line emergency domestic violence service. In fact, it provides 'step down' or 'transitional' accommodation to support a transition into a permanent settled home. This can include survivors of domestic violence who are making the transition from emergency services to a new, permanent home.

Officials from my Department and Tusla recently met with Respond, at its request, to discuss the situation in Cuan Álainn Centre. The Department sought additional information from Respond, including information in relation to its overall financial position. The most recent information provided indicates that Respond, which is made up of two companies, is in good overall financial health.

I hope that the matter can be satisfactorily resolved, by allowing sufficient time for all avenues to be explored by the relevant parties. This will need to include discussion with other parties, including the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government as it would appear that these families have pressing housing needs.

I know that Cuan Álainn provides very important services, and I am anxious to do what I can to resolve the issue that has now arisen. With this in mind, I have agreed to meet Respond and I am hopeful that this meeting can be arranged shortly.

Tusla will continue to work closely with service providers to ensure that women and children fleeing domestic violence receive all necessary emergency support.