Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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250. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to introduce a women's refuge in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40193/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of domestic, sexual or gender-based violence, whether in the context of the family or otherwise. Accordingly, Tusla has provided funding for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence services since its foundation in 2014. This includes services in Counties Cavan and Monaghan.

As part of Tusla's commissioning approach to the development of services, Tusla carried out a number of needs analysis projects in 2017 to identify gaps in service provision and to prioritise service developments. All future service developments, whether based in the North East region or elsewhere, will be informed by Tusla’s commissioning approach.

I have requested that Tusla respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.