Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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480. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when she expects a refuge (details supplied) to reopen; if the refuge will reopen as a domestic violence refuge; if it is to be used by the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive as emergency homeless accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15265/19]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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In August 2017, Tusla had to temporarily suspend services at the refuge to which the Deputy refers, due to concerns about electrical installations at the facility. An upgrade of the building has been completed. 

Plans are in progress to reopen the service in Quarter 2 of this year. I can assure the Deputy that it will reopen as a domestic violence refuge. The newly upgraded facility provides nine family units of accommodation for victims of domestic violence. 

The opening of the refuge has been delayed as there are important staffing matters to be addressed. Tusla is in the process of contracting a specialist domestic violence organisation to manage the facility. It is expected that outreach services will be in place for service users in advance of accommodation services being made available. 

In the interim, Tusla agreed with the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DRHE) to provide short-term accommodation to a cohort of homeless women. Tusla has reported that a number of these women are victims of domestic violence who are receiving support from specialist domestic violence organisations. This arrangement will continue until the contract with a specialist domestic violence organisation is in place to manage the facility.