Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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117. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the action he will take to prevent the closure in December 2015 of the Cuan Álainn women's refuge at the Respond housing association development in Tallaght in Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40816/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I facilitated a meeting with Respond on 3rd November to hear from them with regard to the nature of the service provided, the reasons for the intended cessation of the service, and to get a better understanding of Respond’s previous interaction with state bodies in relation to the Cuan Álainn facility.

The Cuan Álainn Centre, in the main, provides second stage residential accommodation for persons whose emergency needs arising from domestic violence have been met.

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, in discharging its statutory responsibility, funds emergency refuge services for adults and children fleeing domestic violence, as well as providing a range of ongoing community supports. Tusla will continue to provide such supports in the future.

Respond informed me that there were five families in residence at the Cuan Álainn Centre. Accommodation has recently been secured for two of the families. The remaining three families residing at the Centre required to be housed. The local housing authorities are best placed to address such needs.

I advised Respond that I would contact my colleague, the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to establish what can be done to assist the families involved, particularly in light of the housing needs of the families who reside at Cuan Álainn Centre. I have done that and also asked Minister Kelly to ensure that there is further engagement by the relevant local authorities with Respond regarding the future of the service.

I would also like to assure the Deputy that Tusla will continue to work closely with these families by providing appropriate community supports.