Written answers

Tuesday, 27 July 2021

Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Domestic Violence

Photo of Eoin Ó BroinEoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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1200. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost of providing and maintaining a domestic violence refuge space per year; the number of domestic violence refuge spaces that are allocated for 2021; and the amount of funding that was provided for domestic violence refuges for 2021. [39308/21]

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross Departmental and multi-agency issue, with overall policy coordinated by the Department of Justice. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of DSGBV. Capital funding for approved housing bodies, including services that provide refuge accommodation, is currently provided by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Tusla has previously advised that the cost of maintaining a single refuge family place is in the region of €100,000 annually. This does not include the initial capital costs for the development of these additional spaces. Capital costs for the development of refuges are not the responsibility of Tusla, and these are not included in the above figure. In addition to capital costs, delivery of additional family units of accommodation would require significant strategic funding, planning and collaboration between Government Departments, local authorities and State agencies. With regard to emergency domestic violence accommodation, Tusla reports that 141 family units were operational as of 29 April 2021.

The Department is providing Tusla with funding of €30 million this year for the provision of DSGBV services. I have asked Tusla to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the specific funding provided to domestic violence refuges in 2021.

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