Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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191. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to provide funding to the Department of Justice and Equality for the full implementation of the Istanbul Convention with regard to one women's shelter per 10,000 inhabitants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29104/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I thank the Deputy for her question.

There are 2 principal policy instruments guiding Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence services:

1. Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention).

2. National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence (DSGBV) (2016 – 2021).

Policy responsibility for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence falls under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality.

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the provision of services for the care and protection to victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.

I would like to clarify that it does not fall under my remit as the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to provide funding to the Department of Justice and Equality for the implementation of the Istanbul Convention.

Funding is allocated to Tusla under my Department's Vote to provide services to victims of domestic and sexual violence, and to meet obligations under the Istanbul Convention.

The number of domestic violence refuge spaces provided in 2017 was 155 family units, comprising 147 emergency refuge family units and 8 emergency non-refuge family units. Guidance from the Council of Europe in relation to the provision of family places in a refuge indicates that “In member states where shelters form part of a community strategy with intervention projects, there should be one family place per 10,000 women”.

Using the methodology set out by the Council of Europe, based on average family size and overall bed capacity, where a "family place should cater for a woman and the number of children based on the average family size for the country", current provision in Ireland is one family place per 7,765 adult women, which exceeds the recommendation for minimum refuge provision.

Variations in configurations of unit size and type, the emergency basis of refuge provision, and geographical distribution of demand have led to some difficulties in ensuring a direct match between available units and families seeking refuge.

While this remains a challenge for Tusla, additional resources provided this year have allowed the Agency to address a number of issues that will ensure better outcomes for individuals and their families who need services and support.

At all times, Tusla’s key priority is to ensure that the needs of victims and survivors of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence are met in the best way possible, with due attention to the quality, accessibility, and outcome of services.

Since becoming Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I have attached a high priority to the development of domestic, sexual and gender based violence services, and I am committed to supporting Tusla in meeting the needs of victims and the implementation of the Istanbul Convention.